curious

adjective

cu·ri·ous ˈkyu̇r-ē-əs How to pronounce curious (audio)

ˈkyər-

: marked by desire to investigate and learn

They were curious as to who won the game.

The cat was curious about its new environment.

: marked by inquisitive interest in others' concerns : nosy

curious about the neighbors' doings

: exciting attention as strange, novel, or unexpected : odd

a curious coincidence

We were concerned about his curious behavior.

archaic : made carefully

archaic : precisely accurate

obsolete : abstruse

curiousness noun

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."

Example Sentences

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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web Millar is curious about the industry structures that generate hype.

Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 1 Sep. 2022 Already, diners are curious about Bonchon’s offerings.

George Castle, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2022 Chiles is curious about what this latest shift will look like, to see if the metamorphosis goes deeper than a new logo and mission statement.

Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 21 Aug. 2022 Chiles is curious about what this latest shift will look like, to see if the metamorphosis goes deeper than a new logo and mission statement.

Will Graves, Chron, 20 Aug. 2022 Spend time on a mountaintop and be curious about the impact of perspective on problem solving.

Tracy Brower, Forbes, 14 Aug. 2022 Long enjoys chatting with people, who are often curious about Stream Watch.

Conocophillips Alaska, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Aug. 2022 At first glance, the images and videos appear familiar while simultaneously possessing a refreshed look due to the placement of the ‘Ana Bag’ – causing viewers to be curious about the unknown.

Greg Emmanuel, Essence, 8 Aug. 2022 Instead of following a love language playbook, Berman said, partners need to be curious about how to satisfy one another.

John Duffy, CNN, 5 Aug. 2022 See More

curious

adjective

as in inquisitive

interested in what is not one's own business curious neighbors peered out of their windows as the new people moved in

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

inquisitive
interested
nosy
nosey
concerned
questioning
prying
snoopy
officious
quizzical
meddlesome
intrusive
obtrusive
meddling
interrogative
interfering
inquisitional
inquisitorial

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

uncurious
incurious
indifferent
disinterested
unconcerned
uninterested
apathetic

as in strange

different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion that's a pretty curious coincidence—almost too curious to be believed

Synonyms & Similar Words

strange
bizarre
funny
weird
odd
peculiar
remarkable
unusual
crazy
erratic
eccentric
quirky
unique
abnormal
wild
kinky
weirdo
wacky
offbeat
funky
screwy
outré
kooky
whacky
quaint
unconventional
outlandish
queer
outrageous
uncommon
cranky
extraordinary
bizarro
fantastic
freak
freaky
off-the-wall
queerish
fantastical
off-kilter
kookie
rare
noticeable
shocking
puzzling
outstanding
rum
far-out
striking
way-out
freakish
out-of-the-way
prominent
notable
perplexing
baffling
conspicuous
atypical
flaky
bewildering
spaced-out
phenomenal
idiosyncratic
aberrant
singular
salient
mystifying
unwonted
phantasmagoric
confounding
unorthodox
nonconformist
uncustomary
phantasmagorical
crotchety
atrocious
addlepated
nonmainstream
out-there

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

typical
usual
ordinary
normal
average
unremarkable
commonplace
familiar
standard
everyday
prosaic
routine
conservative
garden
conventional
predictable
conformist
expected
unexceptional
common
frequent
workaday
run-of-the-mill
regular
customary
habitual
knee-jerk
wonted

as in unusual

noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced that is one of the most curious paintings I've ever seen

Synonyms & Similar Words

unusual
funny
strange
weird
uncommon
odd
peculiar
rare
extraordinary
unique
bizarre
offbeat
unaccustomed
eccentric
remarkable
oddball
special
singular
queer
noteworthy
noticeable
abnormal
out-of-the-way
uncustomary
atypical
notable
outré
kooky
outlandish
exceptional
particular
kookie
newsworthy
far-out
way-out
aberrant
irregular

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

common
usual
ordinary
plain
familiar
typical
normal
regular
predictable
expected
unexceptional

Synonym Chooser

The words inquisitive and prying are common synonyms of curious. While all three words 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

The words inquisitive and curious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inquisitive suggests impertinent and habitual curiosity and persistent quizzing.

dreaded the visits of their inquisitive relatives

The synonyms prying and curious are sometimes interchangeable, but prying implies busy meddling and officiousness.

prying neighbors who refuse to mind their own business

单词	curious
释义	curious adjective cu·ri·ous ˈkyu̇r-ē-əs ˈkyər- 1 a : 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. 3 a archaic : made carefully b archaic : precisely accurate c obsolete : abstruse curiousness noun 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." Synonyms inquisitive nosy nosey prying snoopy See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences 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. See More Recent Examples on the Web Millar is curious about the industry structures that generate hype. Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 1 Sep. 2022 Already, diners are curious about Bonchon’s offerings. George Castle, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2022 Chiles is curious about what this latest shift will look like, to see if the metamorphosis goes deeper than a new logo and mission statement. Mark Heim \| Mheim@al.com, al, 21 Aug. 2022 Chiles is curious about what this latest shift will look like, to see if the metamorphosis goes deeper than a new logo and mission statement. Will Graves, Chron, 20 Aug. 2022 Spend time on a mountaintop and be curious about the impact of perspective on problem solving. Tracy Brower, Forbes, 14 Aug. 2022 Long enjoys chatting with people, who are often curious about Stream Watch. Conocophillips Alaska, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Aug. 2022 At first glance, the images and videos appear familiar while simultaneously possessing a refreshed look due to the placement of the ‘Ana Bag’ – causing viewers to be curious about the unknown. Greg Emmanuel, Essence, 8 Aug. 2022 Instead of following a love language playbook, Berman said, partners need to be curious about how to satisfy one another. John Duffy, CNN, 5 Aug. 2022 See More Word History Etymology Middle English, from Anglo-French curios, from Latin curiosus careful, inquisitive, from cura cure First Known Use 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a Phrases Containing curious bi-curious bi-curious Kids Definition curious adjective cu·ri·ous ˈkyu̇r-ē-əs 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 curious adjective 1 as in inquisitive interested in what is not one's own business curious neighbors peered out of their windows as the new people moved in Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance inquisitive interested nosy nosey concerned questioning prying snoopy officious quizzical meddlesome intrusive obtrusive meddling interrogative interfering inquisitional inquisitorial Antonyms & Near Antonyms uncurious incurious indifferent disinterested unconcerned uninterested apathetic See More 2 as in strange different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion that's a pretty curious coincidence—almost too curious to be believed Synonyms & Similar Words strange bizarre funny weird odd peculiar remarkable unusual crazy erratic eccentric quirky unique abnormal wild kinky weirdo wacky offbeat funky screwy outré kooky whacky quaint unconventional outlandish queer outrageous uncommon cranky extraordinary bizarro fantastic freak freaky off-the-wall queerish fantastical off-kilter kookie rare noticeable shocking puzzling outstanding rum far-out striking way-out freakish out-of-the-way prominent notable perplexing baffling conspicuous atypical flaky bewildering spaced-out phenomenal idiosyncratic aberrant singular salient mystifying unwonted phantasmagoric confounding unorthodox nonconformist uncustomary phantasmagorical crotchety atrocious addlepated nonmainstream out-there Antonyms & Near Antonyms typical usual ordinary normal average unremarkable commonplace familiar standard everyday prosaic routine conservative garden conventional predictable conformist expected unexceptional common frequent workaday run-of-the-mill regular customary habitual knee-jerk wonted See More 3 as in unusual noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced that is one of the most curious paintings I've ever seen Synonyms & Similar Words unusual funny strange weird uncommon odd peculiar rare extraordinary unique bizarre offbeat unaccustomed eccentric remarkable oddball special singular queer noteworthy noticeable abnormal out-of-the-way uncustomary atypical notable outré kooky outlandish exceptional particular kookie newsworthy far-out way-out aberrant irregular Antonyms & Near Antonyms common usual ordinary plain familiar typical normal regular predictable expected unexceptional See More Synonym Chooser The words inquisitive and prying are common synonyms of curious. While all three words 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 The words inquisitive and curious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inquisitive suggests impertinent and habitual curiosity and persistent quizzing. dreaded the visits of their inquisitive relatives The synonyms prying and curious are sometimes interchangeable, but prying implies busy meddling and officiousness. prying neighbors who refuse to mind their own business
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curious

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing curious

Kids Definition

adjective

adjective

Synonym Chooser