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View synonyms for

curious

[ kyoor-ee-uhs ]

adjective

  1. eager to learn or know; inquisitive.

    Synonyms: ,

    Antonyms:

  2. prying; meddlesome.

    Antonyms:

  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: , ,

  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

/ ˈʊəɪə /

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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈܰdzܲԱ, noun
  • ˈܰdzܲ, adverb
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Other Word Forms

  • ۾·dzܲ· adverb
  • ۾·dzܲ·Ա noun
  • ԴDz·۾·dzܲ adjective
  • non·۾·dzܲ· adverb
  • non·۾·dzܲ·Ա noun
  • v·۾·dzܲ adjective
  • over·۾·dzܲ· adverb
  • over·۾·dzܲ·Ա noun
  • p·۾·dzܲ adjective
  • super·۾·dzܲ· adverb
  • super·۾·dzܲ·Ա noun
  • ܲ·۾·dzܲ adjective
  • un·۾·dzܲ· adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of curious1

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Latin ūōܲ “careful, inquisitive,” equivalent to ū- (combining form of ū “care”) + -ōܲ -ous; cure
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Word History and Origins

Origin of curious1

C14: from Latin ūōܲ taking pains over something, from ū care
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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.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The Times was curious to see where people were spotting the three most frequently observed lizard species in Southern California, the fence, the common side-blotched lizard and the southern alligator lizard.

From

They described her as curious, adventurous, creative, “the smartest of all of us” and someone who was “always trying something new.”

From

"It's the first very long deployment away from home for me so I'm curious to see what that brings," he said.

From

"I'm really curious as to how we can use technology for good," she said.

From

The rest may be curious to see what this moment kicks off, lending us a new appreciation for everything walking up to that frigid, terrible peak.

From

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curiosity killed the catcurite