Inquisitive Meaning
/ɪŋˈkwɪzətɪv/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjEager to acquire knowledge; acquisitive.
adjToo curious; overly interested; nosy.
Sentence Examples
You are too inquisitive about other people's affairs.
She is inquisitive, but I like her none the worse.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ child kept asking why the sky is blue.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ child asked her teacher dozens of questions about how the little birds learned to fly.
Word Origin & History
Late 14th century, from Old French inquisitif, from Late Latin inquisitivus, from Latin inquisitus, past participle of inquirere. See also inquire.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"[…] a young, inquiſitive and ſprightly Genius; […]"
— 1741, I[saac] Watts, “Of living Instructions and Lectures, of Teachers and Learners”, in The Improvement of the Mind: Or, A Supplement to the Art of Logick: […], London: […] James Brackstone, […], →OCLC, paragraph III, page 100:
"A wiſe man is not inquiſitive about things impertinent; […]"
— 1725, Homer, “Book XI”, in [Alexander Pope], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume III, London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC, footnote, page 75:
"Huddled together in loathsome files, they squat there over night, or until an inquisitive policeman breaks up the congregation with his club, which in Mulberry Street has always free swing."
— 1890, Jacob A[ugust] Riis, “A Raid on the Stale-beer Dives”, in How the Other Half Lives: Studies among the Tenements of New York, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, →OCLC, page 77:
"No, no, Bertha; we must not give them reason to say that their neighbours are inquisitive."
— 1892, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “[Beyond the City] The New-comers”, in The Great Shadow and Beyond the City, Bristol: J. W. Arrowsmith, […]; London: Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., →OCLC, page 157:
"― Everybody gets their own ration of luck, they say. Now you mention it his face was familiar to me. But leaving that for the moment, how much did you part with, he queried, if I am not too inquisitive?"
— 1922 February, James Joyce, “[Episode 16: Eumaeus]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, […], →OCLC, part III [Nostos], page 575:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ child kept asking why the sky is blue.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ child asked her teacher dozens of questions about how the little birds learned to fly.