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Definition of curious

curious

/ˈkjʊɹ.i.əs/
cu · ri · ous
Adverb:curiously
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curious Lexical Profile

curious Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Eager to know, learn, or investigate something; showing a strong desire for knowledge or information.

Example

"The curious students asked the visiting astronomer dozens of questions about black holes."

2

Strange, unusual, or unexpected enough to arouse interest or speculation.

Example

"The archaeologist discovered a curious bronze artifact covered in unfamiliar symbols."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for curious
Antonyms
View all antonyms for curious

• Rhymes for curious

• Nearby Words

curfew
curio
curiosity
curious
curiously
curiousness
curitiba

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Old French curius, from Latin curiosus ('careful, diligent, inquisitive'), which derives from cura ('care, attention'). Originally referring to taking great care or pains, the sense shifted to being eager to learn or unusual enough to attract attention.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Curious. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/curious
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