curiosity
The following words can all be used to describe a person who is eager to find out about someone's life, or about an event or situation:
She put on a good show of looking interested.
| curious | inquisitive |
| interested | nosy |
| prying |
‘curious’
Curious is a neutral word, which does not show approval or disapproval.
Steve was intensely curious about the world I came from.
‘interested’
Interested is usually complimentary when it is used to talk about someone's interest in a person's life.
‘nosy’ and ‘prying’
Nosy and prying are used to show disapproval.
‘Who is the girl you came in with?’ – ‘Don’t be so nosy.'
Computer-based records can easily be protected from prying eyes by simple systems of codes.
Prying is usually used with eyes.
‘inquisitive’
Inquisitive is sometimes used to show disapproval, but it can also be neutral or even complimentary.
Mr Courtney was surprised. ‘A ring, you say?’ He tried not to sound inquisitive.
Up close, he was a man with inquisitive sparkling eyes and a fresh, very down-to-earth smile.