curious

[kyoor-ee-uhs]

adjective

1. eager to learn or know; inquisitive.

   Synonyms: interested, inquiring
   Antonyms: indifferent

2. prying; meddlesome.

   Antonyms: indifferent

3. arousing or exciting speculation, interest, or attention through being inexplicable or highly unusual; odd; strange.

   a curious sort of person;

   a curious scene.

   Synonyms: rare, novel, singular

4. Archaic.

   1. made or prepared skillfully.

   2. done with painstaking accuracy or attention to detail.

      a curious inquiry.

   3. careful; fastidious.

   4. marked by intricacy or subtlety.

curious

/ ˈkjʊərɪəs /

adjective

1. eager to learn; inquisitive

2. overinquisitive; prying

3. interesting because of oddness or novelty; strange; unexpected

4. rare,  (of workmanship, etc) highly detailed, intricate, or subtle

5. obsolete,  fastidious or hard to please

Other Word Forms

• curiously adverb
• curiousness noun
• noncurious adjective
• noncuriously adverb
• noncuriousness noun
• overcurious adjective
• overcuriously adverb
• overcuriousness noun
• supercurious adjective
• supercuriously adverb
• supercuriousness noun
• uncurious adjective
• uncuriously adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of curious¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Latin cūriōsus “careful, inquisitive,” equivalent to cūri- (combining form of cūra “care”) + -ōsus -ous; cure

Word History and Origins

Origin of curious¹

C14: from Latin cūriōsus taking pains over something, from cūra care

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

It’s not just a question of if our children should be bilingual; it’s also about being curious about the world we live in.

From Los Angeles Times

Strong leaders, who are present and curious and demand the right behaviour from colleagues will continue to thrive.

From BBC

In a twitch, a head tilt or a whine, Indy communicates his emotions: curious, lonely, contented, confused, fretful, desperate or petrified.

From Los Angeles Times

Assumption Island, in the western Indian Ocean, possesses little at first glance that would set even the most curious and intrepid traveller's pulse racing.

From BBC

One of the curious facts about rats - and one begins to explain why poison baits often don't work - is that they cannot vomit.

From BBC

Related Words

• bizarre 
• exotic 
• extraordinary 
• mysterious 
• peculiar 
• puzzling 
• remarkable 
• strange 
• unique 
• unusual 
• weird 
• wonderful