Word
curiously
Phoneticscu·ri·ous·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkjʊɹiəsɫi/
UK/kjˈʊɹɪəsli/
Adverb of manner
Definition
adv. in a way that shows you are interested in something and want to learn more. It can also mean that something is strange or unusual.
adv. in a manner that demonstrates inquisitiveness or interest; alternatively, used to indicate that a situation is strange or unexpected.
Examples
“The cat looked curiously at the moving shadow.”
“Curiously, the front door was unlocked even though the family had been away for a week.”
“The researchers looked curiously at the data, noting that the results contradicted every hypothesis they had formulated during the initial planning phase.”
Examples
simple
“The cat looked curiously at the moving shadow.”
contextual
“Curiously, the front door was unlocked even though the family had been away for a week.”
complex
“The researchers looked curiously at the data, noting that the results contradicted every hypothesis they had formulated during the initial planning phase.”
Usage
When used to mean 'strangely', it often functions as a sentence adverb at the start of a clause.
Real-World Examples
“At the age of 25, she is still curiously child-like.” “Two small boys peered curiously at me from the doorway.” “Some disagreed on money, some disagreed on how to raise their children, and, curiously, many owned pets, usually a dog.” “When the children spotted us at the forest’s edge, they came running along the dusty path, jumped over a low rock wall, ducked under branches and approached us curiously.” Etymology
From Middle English curiusly, curyously, curiosly, curiouseliche, curyouslyche, equivalent to curious + -ly.
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.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
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/curiously