Word
inquisitive
Phoneticsin·quis·i·tive, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪnˈkwɪzɪtɪv/
UK/ɪnkwˈɪzɪtˌɪv/
Definition
adj. wanting to know a lot about things and asking many questions. You use this to describe someone who is naturally curious and likes to learn.
adj. having a strong desire to know or learn; characterized by a habit of asking questions. Often used to describe a person's personality or a child's natural behavior.
Examples
“The inquisitive child asked a hundred questions during the museum tour.”
“An inquisitive mind is one of the most valuable traits for a scientist or a detective.”
“The inquisitive nature of the young researcher led her to uncover a series of overlooked patterns in the data that eventually changed the field of study.”
Examples
simple
“The inquisitive child asked a hundred questions during the museum tour.”
contextual
“An inquisitive mind is one of the most valuable traits for a scientist or a detective.”
complex
“The inquisitive nature of the young researcher led her to uncover a series of overlooked patterns in the data that eventually changed the field of study.”
Real-World Examples
“Gordon, from Lincoln, believes videos on her account have racked up thousands of views because people are "naturally inquisitive" and "nosey".” “The whole three months’ worth of music, in fact, sits on the Library of Congress website, a couple of clicks away from anyone inquisitive enough to uncover these preserved moments.” Etymology
Late 14th century, from Old French inquisitif, from Late Latin inquisitivus, from Latin inquisitus, past participle of inquirere. See also inquire.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- 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
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/inquisitive