curiously
gb/kjˈʊɹiəsli/ us/kjˈʊɹiəsli/
B1
English
~ 4200
Senses
0 senses
adverb
B1
property
1
In an inquisitive way
In a way that shows you want to know or learn something.
Usage pattern:
[someone] curiously [verb]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'curiously' with 'curious' and use the adjective form incorrectly in place of the adverb.
Synonyms
inquisitively (Slightly more formal; often used in written contexts.)
Antonyms
indifferently (Shows no interest or curiosity.)
Collocations
look curiously
|ask curiously
|glance curiously
|peer curiously
Themes
communication
|emotions
|learning
Examples
- She leaned forward and curiously examined the old photograph.
- He listened curiously as they told the story.
- The child peered curiously into the box.
Learner examples
- She looked curiously at the picture.
- The boy asked curiously about the toy.
- I listened curiously to the story.
adverb
B2
property
2
In an unusual or surprising way
In a way that is strange or surprising.
Usage pattern:
curiously [adjective/adverb/clause]
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse this sense when 'surprisingly' would be more natural in casual conversation.
Synonyms
strangely (Common synonym, but may sound slightly more informal.)
Antonyms
predictably (Happens in a way that is expected, not surprising.)
Collocations
curiously enough
|curiously absent
|curiously quiet
Themes
description
|storytelling
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Curiously, no one mentioned the missing files.
- The room was curiously silent after the announcement.
- He was curiously calm during the crisis.
Learner examples
- Curiously, the shop was closed.
- The street was curiously empty.
- She was curiously happy after losing.
Grammar
Dictionary form
curiously
IPA
GB/kjˈʊɹiəsli/
US/kjˈʊɹiəsli/
Syllables & stress
curi - ously (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (curi)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: curiously
- Plural: curiouslies
Word family
Expressions
curiously enough
1/kjˈʊɹiəsli ɪnˈʌf/
fixed phrase
Introducing something surprising
You say this before giving surprising or strange information.
Examples
- Curiously enough, he never replied to her message.
- Curiously enough, no one had noticed the mistake.