Standard Lemma guide

inquisitiveness

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The quality of being inquisitive; curiosity.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a state of active curiosity

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: curiousness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: curiosity, wonder

Narrower terms: nosiness, prying, snoopiness

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English inquisitive Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English inquisitiveness From inquisitive + -ness.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: tiedonhaluisuus — the quality of being inquisitive; curiosity — see also curiosity
  • French: curiosité — the quality of being inquisitive; curiosity — see also curiosity
  • German: Neugier — the quality of being inquisitive; curiosity — see also curiosity
  • German: Neugierde — the quality of being inquisitive; curiosity — see also curiosity
  • Hindi: जिज्ञासा (jijñāsā) — the quality of being inquisitive; curiosity — see also curiosity
  • Romanian: curiozitate — the quality of being inquisitive; curiosity — see also curiosity