curious
Tending to ask questions, or to want to explore or investigate; inquisitive; (with a negative connotation) nosy, prying.
Word facts
Definition of Curious
Leading one to ask questions about; somewhat odd, out of the ordinary, or unusual.
Example sentences
Young children are naturally curious about the world and everything in it.
The platypus is a curious creature, with fur like a mammal and a beak like a bird.
Using Curious well
A closer look at how curious is used — meaning in plain English, how close synonyms differ, and examples at different levels.
Eager to learn or know more about things; or, in another sense, strange and hard to explain.
Use it for a keen desire to find out or explore, which is usually a positive trait. It can also flag something odd or puzzling, as in a curious noise, so let context show which meaning you mean.
Talk about children, learners, and researchers; descriptions of an inquiring mind; and, in its other sense, storytelling and reports noting something strange or unexpected.
Curious has two distinct senses — eager to learn, and strange — so 'a curious child' (inquisitive) and 'a curious smell' (odd) use the same word very differently.
- inquisitive
- Close in meaning but hints more at asking lots of questions, sometimes prying into things that aren't your business.
- nosy
- Clearly negative; accuses someone of prying into private matters rather than showing healthy curiosity.
- inquiring
- Neutral and slightly formal, as in an inquiring mind; emphasizes a habit of seeking knowledge.
- intrigued
- Describes curiosity sparked by one particular fascinating thing, rather than a lasting personality trait.
- probing
- Suggests deliberate, searching inquiry, often into difficult or sensitive subjects; more pointed than curious.
- indifferent
- Signals a flat lack of interest, neither wanting to know nor caring.
- incurious
- The precise formal opposite: showing no wish to learn or ask.
- uninterested
- Plainly states no interest, without the aloof edge that indifferent can carry.
- Beginner The curious cat looked inside the open box.
- In writing She was curious by nature, the kind of reader who checks every footnote just to see where it leads.
- Advanced It is a curious fact that the busiest streets often fall silent first at night, as if the city exhausts itself.
Curious shares its start with 'cure' — a curious mind wants to cure its not-knowing.
Synonyms for Curious
Related words
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FAQ
Questions people ask
What does curious mean?
Tending to ask questions, or to want to explore or investigate; inquisitive; (with a negative connotation) nosy, prying. It is an adjective.
How many syllables does curious have?
There are 3 syllables in curious, divided as kyuu·ree·uhs when spoken.
What part of speech is curious?
In a sentence, curious functions as an adjective. As an adjective, it describes or modifies a noun.
What are synonyms for curious?
Close in meaning to curious are peculiar, inquisitive, strange, unusual — choose the one whose tone fits your sentence.
How do you use curious in a sentence?
Example: "Young children are naturally curious about the world and everything in it."