inquisitive

adjective

in·quis·i·tive in-ˈkwi-zə-tiv How to pronounce inquisitive (audio)

: given to examination or investigation

: inclined to ask questions

especially : inordinately or improperly curious about the affairs of others

inquisitively adverb

inquisitiveness noun

Example Sentences

… but now, with the wanderings of the fleets and their inquisitive occupants producing words from all over, the English vocabulary was enhanced not merely by the usual suspects but by words from India and Turkey, Arabia and Malaya, Japan and the native peoples of North America …

Simon Winchester, The Meaning of Everything, 2003 It's partly because humans are naturally inquisitive and exploratory but also, and more significant, because we need the unknown, what historians of religion call "otherness," to lend our lives significance.

David Nicholson-Lord, Nation, 6 Oct. 1997 Inquisitive eyes reveal the dingo's true nature—it's a hunter, from its cocked ears and powerful jaws to the white tip of its tail.

Mitch Reardon, Australian Geographic, July–September 1992 an inquisitive woman who tends to everybody's business but her own

Recent Examples on the Web Matthew, like Charles, is kind, inquisitive, and energetic.

Sara Sidner And Meridith Edwards, CNN, 8 Sep. 2022 Though still a relatively new breed, the LaPerm cat has become known as inquisitive, adventurous, and relatively social with everyone from humans to dogs.

Corinne Sullivan, Woman's Day, 6 Sep. 2022 Jon Ronson brings an inquisitive, empathetic, and slightly neurotic intelligence to bear on fascinating and often surprising tales.

Simon Hill, Wired, 4 Aug. 2022 Jackie Langford set a radon detector on her kitchen table and shooed away her inquisitive 12-year-old, who was more interested in talking uranium policy than finishing his homework.

Mark Olalde, ProPublica, 8 Aug. 2022 The inquisitive maker, who studied architecture and is a musician by trade, started dreaming up his bodacious boudoir armor three years ago.

Alice Newbold, Vogue, 2 Aug. 2022 At the heart of Red Star’s artistic output is an inquisitive celebration of Crow culture.

Tiffany Midge, The New Yorker, 18 July 2022 There are four major types of analytics: descriptive, inquisitive, predictive and prescriptive.

Expert Panel®, Forbes, 7 June 2022 Bedlington Terriers are inquisitive, intelligent, and alert dogs.

Jamie Ballard, Woman's Day, 3 May 2022 See More

inquisitive

adjective

as in curious

interested in what is not one's own business an inquisitive woman who tends to everybody's business but her own

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

curious
nosy
interested
nosey
prying
snoopy
questioning
concerned
officious
quizzical
meddlesome
intrusive
interrogative
obtrusive
meddling
inquisitional
inquisitorial
interfering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

incurious
uncurious
disinterested
uninterested
unconcerned
indifferent
apathetic

Synonym Chooser

The words curious and prying are common synonyms of inquisitive. While all three words mean "interested in what is not one's personal or proper concern," inquisitive suggests impertinent and habitual curiosity and persistent quizzing.

dreaded the visits of their inquisitive relatives

The meanings of curious and inquisitive largely overlap; however, curious, a neutral term, basically connotes an active desire to learn or to know.

children are curious about everything

The words prying and inquisitive are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, prying implies busy meddling and officiousness.

prying neighbors who refuse to mind their own business

单词	inquisitive
释义	inquisitive adjective in·quis·i·tive in-ˈkwi-zə-tiv 1 : given to examination or investigation 2 : inclined to ask questions especially : inordinately or improperly curious about the affairs of others inquisitively adverb inquisitiveness noun Synonyms curious nosy nosey prying snoopy See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences … but now, with the wanderings of the fleets and their inquisitive occupants producing words from all over, the English vocabulary was enhanced not merely by the usual suspects but by words from India and Turkey, Arabia and Malaya, Japan and the native peoples of North America … Simon Winchester, The Meaning of Everything, 2003 It's partly because humans are naturally inquisitive and exploratory but also, and more significant, because we need the unknown, what historians of religion call "otherness," to lend our lives significance. David Nicholson-Lord, Nation, 6 Oct. 1997 Inquisitive eyes reveal the dingo's true nature—it's a hunter, from its cocked ears and powerful jaws to the white tip of its tail. Mitch Reardon, Australian Geographic, July–September 1992 an inquisitive woman who tends to everybody's business but her own Recent Examples on the Web Matthew, like Charles, is kind, inquisitive, and energetic. Sara Sidner And Meridith Edwards, CNN, 8 Sep. 2022 Though still a relatively new breed, the LaPerm cat has become known as inquisitive, adventurous, and relatively social with everyone from humans to dogs. Corinne Sullivan, Woman's Day, 6 Sep. 2022 Jon Ronson brings an inquisitive, empathetic, and slightly neurotic intelligence to bear on fascinating and often surprising tales. Simon Hill, Wired, 4 Aug. 2022 Jackie Langford set a radon detector on her kitchen table and shooed away her inquisitive 12-year-old, who was more interested in talking uranium policy than finishing his homework. Mark Olalde, ProPublica, 8 Aug. 2022 The inquisitive maker, who studied architecture and is a musician by trade, started dreaming up his bodacious boudoir armor three years ago. Alice Newbold, Vogue, 2 Aug. 2022 At the heart of Red Star’s artistic output is an inquisitive celebration of Crow culture. Tiffany Midge, The New Yorker, 18 July 2022 There are four major types of analytics: descriptive, inquisitive, predictive and prescriptive. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 7 June 2022 Bedlington Terriers are inquisitive, intelligent, and alert dogs. Jamie Ballard, Woman's Day, 3 May 2022 See More Word History Etymology see inquisition First Known Use 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Kids Definition inquisitive adjective in·quis·i·tive in-ˈkwi-zə-tiv 1 : in search of information … there will be crowds of scientists and other inquisitive people … Oliver Butterworth, The Enormous Egg 2 : overly curious inquisitive adjective as in curious interested in what is not one's own business an inquisitive woman who tends to everybody's business but her own Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance curious nosy interested nosey prying snoopy questioning concerned officious quizzical meddlesome intrusive interrogative obtrusive meddling inquisitional inquisitorial interfering Antonyms & Near Antonyms incurious uncurious disinterested uninterested unconcerned indifferent apathetic See More Synonym Chooser The words curious and prying are common synonyms of inquisitive. While all three words mean "interested in what is not one's personal or proper concern," inquisitive suggests impertinent and habitual curiosity and persistent quizzing. dreaded the visits of their inquisitive relatives The meanings of curious and inquisitive largely overlap; however, curious, a neutral term, basically connotes an active desire to learn or to know. children are curious about everything The words prying and inquisitive are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, prying implies busy meddling and officiousness. prying neighbors who refuse to mind their own business
随便看	in on the act in on the ground floor in one lay fee lay figure lay figures lay great emphasis on lay great store by lay great stress on lay great stress/emphasis on lay hold of lay in lay into lay it on lay it on the line lay lord lay low lay of the land lay off lay off (of) lay off of lay on lay on the table lay one's cards on the table lay one's hands on

inquisitive

adjective

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

adjective

adjective

Synonym Chooser