Word
curiosity
Phoneticscu·rios·i·ty
US/ˌkjʊɹiˈɑsəti/
UK/kjˌʊɹɪˈɒsɪti/
Definitions
01desire to know
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the feeling of wanting to know or learn about something.
n. the state or quality of being inquisitive; a strong desire to investigate and learn.
日本語:好奇心※
“The children were full of curiosity about the locked room at the end of the hall.”
“Her intellectual curiosity led her to explore fields of study far beyond the requirements of her degree.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'about' or followed by an infinitive.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02an unusual object
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. an unusual or rare object that people find interesting.
n. a rare, unusual, or strange object that attracts interest or attention.
“The old shop was filled with curiosities like wooden toys and ancient coins.”
“The museum's collection includes several Victorian curiosities, such as a clock that runs entirely on water power.”
Usage
In this sense, the noun is countable.
03fine workmanship
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Archaic · Literary
n. very careful and delicate work or construction.
n. the quality of being carefully or delicately constructed; fine or intricate workmanship.
“The gold box was a curiosity of fine carving and detail.”
“The ivory cabinet was a curiosity of such exquisite detail that it was considered the finest piece in the royal collection.”
Usage
Rarely encountered in modern speech; found primarily in historical texts or formal descriptions of art.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “curiosity” in context.
Verb
01. pique curiosity
“The mysterious package left on the doorstep piqued my curiosity immediately.”
verb + noun
02. satisfy curiosity
“She opened the envelope just to satisfy her curiosity about the contents.”
verb + noun
03. stifle curiosity
“Rigid educational systems can sometimes stifle a child's natural curiosity.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. insatiable curiosity
“His insatiable curiosity led him to explore every corner of the ancient library.”
adj + noun
05. intellectual curiosity
“The university seeks students who demonstrate a high level of intellectual curiosity.”
adj + noun
06. morbid curiosity
“Out of morbid curiosity, a crowd gathered to watch the demolition of the old hospital.”
adj + noun
Preposition
07. out of curiosity
“I only asked out of curiosity, not because I wanted to interfere.”
prep + noun
08. with curiosity
“The kitten watched the moving shadow with curiosity and caution.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“Aviv admits to a previous “deficit of curiosity” about mothers.” “The biographer’s prose style is his own but he writes in the same spirit – fired by curiosity and close-marking his subject; gesturing out to the reader as though to engage them in debate.” Etymology
From Middle English curiosite, variant of curiouste, from Anglo-Norman curiouseté, from Latin cūriōsitātem, accusative of cūriōsitās. By surface analysis, curious + -ity. Displaced native Old English firwitt.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/curiosity
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0