SKIP TO CONTENT

inquisitive

/ɪnˈkwɪzɪtɪv/
/ɪnˈkwɪzətɪv/
IPA guide

If you are inquisitive that means you love to inquire; you’re always asking questions. Don’t become a private detective if you don’t have an inquisitive personality.

The old word for question is query, which you can hear in inquire, which means to ask questions. That toddler always asking “why?” is going through an inquisitive stage of development. If someone throws relentlessly hard questions at us, we might call it an inquisition. If your daughter brings her boyfriend home to dinner, be gently inquisitive, but try not to turn it into an inquisition. You'll just make him nervous.

Definitions of inquisitive
  1. adjective
    inquiring or appearing to inquire
    “the police are proverbially inquisitive
    synonyms:
    inquiring
    given to inquiry
  2. adjective
    showing curiosity
    “if someone saw a man climbing a light post they might get inquisitive
    curious
    eager to investigate and learn or learn more (sometimes about others' concerns)
Pronunciation
US
/ɪnˈkwɪzɪtɪv/
UK
/ɪnˈkwɪzətɪv/
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘inquisitive'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family