What does inquisitively mean?
Inquisitively describes the manner of asking questions, examining something, or seeking information with intense curiosity. It is commonly used for a person who is attentive, probing, and determined to understand the subject fully, such as a child studying a new object or an interviewer asking about the reasons behind an event. The word can suggest healthy intellectual curiosity, although in some contexts it may imply excessive questioning or persistent interrogation. Compared with the more general “curiously,” “inquisitively” conveys a purposeful investigation. Its adverbial form is used to modify verbs such as “look,” “ask,” “question,” “examine,” and “study,” and it is especially common in formal, literary, or descriptive writing.
adverbIn an inquisitive manner; with eager curiosity or a desire to obtain detailed information.
- With eager curiosity and a strong desire to learn or discover more.
"She examined the old manuscript inquisitively, searching for clues about its author."
"The child looked inquisitively at the unfamiliar instrument on the table."
"The interviewer asked inquisitively about the changes that had led to the decision."
Ask one better question and you have already begun to investigate the world in an inquisitively minded way.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does inquisitively come from?
The word comes from the adjective “inquisitive,” which was borrowed from the Latin inquisitivus, meaning “of or for inquiry.” That adjective ultimately comes from Latin inquirere, meaning “to inquire into” or “to investigate,” formed from in- and quaerere, “to seek.” The adverb “inquisitively” was formed in English by adding the suffix “-ly” to “inquisitive.”
Related word forms
How inquisitively is actually used
The adverb is formal and slightly literary. It is more specific than “curiously” because it suggests an active wish to understand or discover something.
Easily confused with inquisitively
“Inquisitively” is the adverb describing how someone asks, looks, or investigates, while “inquisitive” is the adjective describing a person or quality.