inquisitive
Americanadjective
-
given to inquiry, research, or asking questions; eager for knowledge; intellectually curious.
an inquisitive mind.
- Antonyms:
- uninterested
-
unduly or inappropriately curious; prying.
noun
adjective
-
excessively curious, esp about the affairs of others; prying
-
eager to learn; inquiring
Synonym Usage
See curious.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of inquisitive
First recorded in 1350–1400; from Late Latin inquīsītīvus, equivalent to Latin inquīsīt(us) ( see inquisition) + -īvus -ive; replacing Middle English inquisitif, from Middle French, from Late Latin, as above
Explanation
If you are inquisitive that means you love to inquire; you’re always asking questions. Don’t become a private detective if you don’t have an inquisitive personality. The old word for question is query, which you can hear in inquire, which means to ask questions. That toddler always asking “why?” is going through an inquisitive stage of development. If someone throws relentlessly hard questions at us, we might call it an inquisition. If your daughter brings her boyfriend home to dinner, be gently inquisitive, but try not to turn it into an inquisition. You'll just make him nervous.
Vocabulary lists containing inquisitive
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 1–6
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The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 5
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
If American music in 1976 represented a collective, inquisitive, inventive American spirit of discovery, the semiquincentennial in the age of social media has become more about the individual identity.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026
The cubs' mother, Tipah, born in January 2019, is described as "independent, cheeky and inquisitive" and has produced one of the largest litters recorded for Sumatran tigers in captivity, the park said.
From BBC ● May 19, 2026
Ms. Wedler is a real discovery—alert, inquisitive, vulnerable—and her character is the most vividly realized in the film.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 7, 2026
“Ni Hao,” one of them finally says, spoken in a warped inquisitive tone, like a test.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 12, 2026
“There are so many inquisitive people and institutions abounding,” said Arobin, “that one is really forced as a matter of convenience these days to assume the virtue of an occupation if he has it not.”
From "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
