inquisitive
/ɪnˈkwɪzɪtɪv
/adjective
1Having or showing an interest in learning things; curious: his poems reveal an intensely inquisitive mind...
- This is one scientific journey that should interest those with an inquisitive mind.
- I felt a calm but inquisitive interest in every thing.
- I've always had an inquisitive mind about everything from flowers to television sets to motor cars.
1.1Unduly curious about the affairs of others; prying: I didn’t like to seem inquisitive...
- Alas, this didn't work, and concern grew as my enquirer's questions became more inquisitive and her manner increasingly flirtatious.
- Being the inquisitive, nosy guy that I am, I wanted to know what they would show about the movie before I saw the finished product.
- They were quite intrusive and loud, and also inquisitive.
Synonyms
curious, intrigued, interested, burning with curiosity, agog;
over-curious, over-interested, prying, spying, scrutinizing, eavesdropping, intrusive, interfering, busybody, meddling, meddlesome;
enquiring, questioning, probing
informal nosy, nosy-parker, snooping, snoopy
Scottish & Northern English nebby
rare busy
Derivatives
inquisitively
/ adverb ...- I paused to watch, and a few minutes later, several monkeys emerged from the dense forest and came to sit on a piece of dead wood jutting into the water, eyeing me up inquisitively.
- You see, the ladies are quite fond of him - a few fans showed up at the store to inquisitively glance around for signs of his presence.
- A tiny multicoloured parrot flew from shoulder to shoulder to peer at us inquisitively, while a small tame monkey searched for fleas in our hair.
inquisitiveness
/ noun ...- This also helps foster inquisitiveness, curiosity, pragmatism in decision making, and creative thinking.
- Good science requires intense inquisitiveness and intense curiosity.
- Whilst not pleasant or acceptable behavior, this sounds more like adolescent experimentation and sexual inquisitiveness rather that really serious assault.
Origin
Late Middle English: from Old French inquisitif, -ive, from late Latin inquisitivus, from the verb inquirere (see enquire).