curious

adjective

cu·ri·ous | \ ˈkyu̇r-ē-əs

, ˈkyər- \

Definition of curious

1a : marked by desire to investigate and learn They were curious as to who won the game. The cat was curious about its new environment.

b : marked by inquisitive interest in others' concerns : nosy curious about the neighbors' doings

2 : exciting attention as strange, novel, or unexpected : odd a curious coincidence We were concerned about his curious behavior.

3a archaic : made carefully

b archaic : precisely accurate

c obsolete : abstruse

Other Words from curious Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about curious

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Synonyms & Antonyms for curious

Synonyms

Antonyms

Choose the Right Synonym for curious

curious, inquisitive, prying mean interested in what is not one's personal or proper concern. curious, a neutral term, basically connotes an active desire to learn or to know. children are curious about everything inquisitive suggests impertinent and habitual curiosity and persistent quizzing. dreaded the visits of their inquisitive relatives prying implies busy meddling and officiousness. prying neighbors who refuse to mind their own business

Did You Know?

Since the 1300s, "curious" has been variously used to describe things that in some way require, invite, or are characterized by carefulness or inquisitiveness. In so doing, it carries on the legacy of its Latin source, the adjective curiosus, meaning "careful" or "inquisitive." The comparative of "curious" is "more curious," though it is not unusual to encounter the phrase "curiouser and curiouser," made popular by the title character of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland who, Lewis Carroll tells us, "was so much surprised that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good English."

Examples of curious in a Sentence

The cat was naturally curious about its new surroundings. They were curious to find out who won the game. We're curious about why you never called us. I'm curious to know more about her. She found a curious old clock in the attic. The birds were engaged in some curious behavior. Their music is a curious blend of disco and rock. By a curious coincidence, they bought a house the same day their old one burned down.

Recent Examples on the Web Earlier this month, the Russian military issued a news release to announce the redeployment of the naval landing craft closer to Ukraine, in case anybody was curious. — New York Times, "In Russia, a Military Buildup That Can’t be Missed," 16 Apr. 2021 In most cases, there are two kinds of people asking questions—those who are curious, and those who see crypto as some sort of threat, or worse, an alternative to the Indian rupee. — Prathamesh Mulye, Quartz, "A techie who once mistrusted the internet is now building one of India’s largest crypto exchanges," 11 Apr. 2021 Allow for anonymity, incorporate the formal and the informal, listen for trends, be curious, repeat. — Johnny Warström, Forbes, "The Effects Of The Pandemic Mean That Employee Voice Has Never Been More Important.," 8 Apr. 2021 For those curious about the precise measurements of the grass at Augusta National, the club said Monday that the fairways were mowed to three-eighths of an inch and the second cut was exactly 1 inch taller. — Tim Reynolds, ajc, "At the Masters, Bubba Watson enjoys standard Augusta fare," 5 Apr. 2021 Those curious to see the volcano spew magma for themselves can tune into a live stream supported by Iceland’s national broadcasting platform RUV, reports Matt Novak for Gizmodo. — Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, "Icelandic Volcano Erupts After 6,000 Years of Dormancy," 22 Mar. 2021 The feature, according to the IRS, updates once a day, so those curious about where their stimulus checks are will be able to regularly review its status. — Asia Ewart, refinery29.com, "When Will My New Stimulus Check Be Deposited?," 15 Mar. 2021 Thanks to a mid-February deal with Universal Music Publishing Group, Supernatural has unlocked a treasure trove of popular music to expand in-app programming, motivate subscribers and entice those still curious about VR workouts. — Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, "How VR Fitness Apps Like Supernatural Could Change The Music Industry," 12 Mar. 2021 For those curious to know just how Roth sold her home so quickly, the Hidden Potential host recently chopped it up with Realtor about the swift sale of her home and more. — Danielle Harling, House Beautiful, "HGTV Star Jasmine Roth's Huntington Beach Home Is Already off the Market," 17 Jan. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'curious.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near curious

curiouser and curiouser

curiously

curite

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Last Updated

21 Apr 2021

Cite this Entry

“Curious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curious. Accessed 2 May. 2021.

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More Definitions for curious

curious

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of curious

: having a desire to learn or know more about something or someone

: strange, unusual, or unexpected

See the full definition for curious in the English Language Learners Dictionary

curious

adjective

cu·ri·ous | \ ˈkyu̇r-ē-əs

Kids Definition of curious

1 : eager to learn : inquisitive Curious onlookers gathered at the scene.

2 : showing an eagerness to learn a curious expression

3 : attracting attention by being strange or unusual : odd “… I'm a … collector … and I like to look at curious specimens.”— Oliver Butterworth, The Enormous Egg

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