curlier; curliest
1
: tending to curl
also : having curls
curly hair
2
: having the grain composed of fibers that undulate without crossing and that often form alternating light and dark lines
curly maple
curliness noun

Examples of curly in a Sentence

She has curly hair and blue eyes. The dog's tail is curly.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Similarly, the most adventurous of women have been noted heading to the salon requesting similar, looser perms for a wavy beach look (or a faux natural curly look). Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025 From Taylor Russell channeling Whitney Houston’s curly cut to Tracee Ellis Ross’s pretzeled chignon, the final leg of fashion month has now been marked as the moment for achievable, yet statement coifs. Essence, 3 Oct. 2025 The brown eyed, curly-haired child is playing with Play-Doh in the family photograph. Clare Fisher, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025 The fine, curly patterns in the plume are better explained by winds rather than by the missile making loops. Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for curly

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of curly was in 1598

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Curly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curly. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

curly

adjective
curlier; curliest
: tending to curl
also : having curls
curly hair
curliness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on curly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!