curious
Americanadjective
-
eager to learn or know; inquisitive.
- Synonyms:
- interested, inquiring
- Antonyms:
- indifferent
-
prying; meddlesome.
- Antonyms:
- indifferent
-
arousing or exciting speculation, interest, or attention through being inexplicable or highly unusual; odd; strange.
a curious sort of person;
a curious scene.
-
Archaic.
-
made or prepared skillfully.
-
done with painstaking accuracy or attention to detail.
a curious inquiry.
-
careful; fastidious.
-
marked by intricacy or subtlety.
-
adjective
-
eager to learn; inquisitive
-
overinquisitive; prying
-
interesting because of oddness or novelty; strange; unexpected
-
rare (of workmanship, etc) highly detailed, intricate, or subtle
-
obsolete fastidious or hard to please
Related Words
Curious, inquisitive, meddlesome, prying refer to taking an undue (and petty) interest in others' affairs. Curious implies a desire to know what is not properly one's concern: curious about a neighbor's habits. Inquisitive implies asking impertinent questions in an effort to satisfy curiosity: inquisitive about a neighbor's habits. Meddlesome implies thrusting oneself into and taking an active part in other people's affairs entirely unasked and unwelcomed: a meddlesome cousin who tries to run the affairs of a family. Prying implies a meddlesome and persistent inquiring into others' affairs: a prying reporter inquiring into the secrets of a business firm.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of curious
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Latin cūriōsus “careful, inquisitive,” equivalent to cūri- (combining form of cūra “care”) + -ōsus -ous; see cure
Explanation
If you’re curious, you really want to know something — like the secret ingredient that makes these cookies so crunchy. You may wish you hadn’t been so curious when you find out it’s roasted crickets. Curious describes someone who is eager to find out answers and to explore and learn. A curious student asks lots of questions. A curious little monkey, like the famous Curious George from the children’s book series, may be so curious to know how a clock works that he breaks it trying to get a closer look inside. Curious can also describe something unusual, like a house that is painted a curious shade of purple.
Vocabulary lists containing curious
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 3
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 8
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
I would be curious, what areas of the filmmaking process or the film distribution process do you think AI is appropriate for use, that you’ve experimented with it, that you’re excited about its prospects?
From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026
As the debate rages, in Las Vegas a purpose-built arena is ready to welcome more than 2,000 invited guests to an event that will be streamed live to those curious enough to watch.
From BBC • May 20, 2026
But contact is growing rapidly today, even if outsiders are barred from entering Indigenous territory, with members curious about the wider world -- and the modern comforts it can offer.
From Barron's • May 18, 2026
While that leaves many investors curious about snagging a piece of big-name privately held firms, advisers said they rarely recommend it to clients.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 16, 2026
It drew curious looks from the rest of the shoppers.
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
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.
