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

• curiousness noun
• curiously adverb
• 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

I’m curious how often he wants to look around inside.

Read more on Salon

A crowd of about 50 supporters and curious locals meet the candidate at Donkey’s Place, a venerable deli that serves a meatier cheesesteak than more-famous shops in nearby Philadelphia.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

I’m curious about the psychology of people who make it to the tippy top.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

I was more curious about everything and inquisitive about other people.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

So when Stewart came to him curious about reclassifying, he knew he couldn’t hold him back.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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