inquisitive Meaning, Definition & Usage

adjective satellite showing curiosity
speculative; wondering; questioning.
- if someone saw a man climbing a light post they might get inquisitive
- raised a speculative eyebrow
adjective satellite inquiring or appearing to inquire
- an inquiring look
- the police are proverbially inquisitive

OE. inquisitif, F. inquisitif.

Disposed to ask questions, especially in matters which do not concern the inquirer.
A wise man is not inquisitive about things impertinent. Broome.
Given to examination, investigation, or research; searching; curious.
A young, inquisitive, and sprightly genius. I. Watts.
Syn. -- Inquiring; prying; curious; meddling; intrusive. -- Inquisitive, Curious, Prying. Curious denotes a feeling, and inquisitive a habit. We are curious when we desire to learn something new; we are inquisitive when we set ourselves to gain it by inquiry or research. Prying implies inquisitiveness, and is more commonly used in a bad sense, as indicating a desire to penetrate into the secrets of others.
[We] curious are to hear, What happens new. Milton.

This folio of four pages [a newspaper], happy work! Which not even critics criticise; that holds Inquisitive attention, while I read. Cowper.

Nor need we with a prying eye survey The distant skies, to find the Milky Way. Creech.