Word
curious
Phoneticscu·ri·ous, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkjʊɹiəs/
UK/kjˈʊɹɪəs/
Definitions
01wanting to know
B1 · Intermediate
adj. wanting to know or learn about something.
adj. eager to know or learn something; possessing a desire for investigation or information.
“The curious child asked her teacher why the sky was blue.”
“The researchers remained curious about the long-term effects of the treatment, leading them to extend the study for another five years.”
Usage
often followed by the preposition 'about' or an infinitive verb.
Teaching tip
While usually positive, it can occasionally imply being 'nosy' if the person is asking too many personal questions.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02strange or unusual
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. strange, unusual, or unexpected.
adj. arousing interest by being unusual, strange, or unexpected.
日本語:奇妙※
“It was curious that the front door was open when I arrived home.”
“The detective found it curious that the witness remembered the exact time of the event but could not describe the suspect's clothing.”
Usage
often used in the phrase 'it is curious that...'
Teaching tip
In this sense, the word describes the object or situation, not the person observing it.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “curious” in context.
Verb
01. become curious about
“She became curious about her family history after finding an old photo album.”
verb + adj + prep
02. remain curious
“To be a successful scientist, you must always remain curious about the world.”
verb + adj
Adjective
03. curious coincidence
“It was a curious coincidence that we both wore the same dress to the party.”
adj + noun
04. curious to know
“I was curious to know why the meeting had been cancelled so suddenly.”
adj + infinitive
05. intensely curious
“The students were intensely curious to see what was inside the locked box.”
adv + adj
Preposition
06. in a curious way
“The old house was decorated in a curious way that reflected the owner's travels.”
prep + noun
07. curious kids
Real-World Examples
“Fortunately, for journalists, researching questions we’re curious about is part of the job.” “I encourage clients to get curious about it, rather than trying to fight it.” Etymology
From Middle English curious, from Old French curius, from Latin cūriōsus. The English word is cognate with Italian curioso, Occitan curios, Portuguese curioso, and Spanish curioso.
From curi(um) + -ous.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Idioms
In Literature
Cover: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — F. Scott Fitzgerald.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button · 1922-05-27 · Fantasy short story
- Author:
- F. Scott Fitzgerald
F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1922 fantasy short story follows Benjamin Button, a man born old who grows younger as the years pass. The title uses curious in its sense of strange or unusual, which fits this odd life story.
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/curious
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0