Be Curious To Know vs. Curious About Something
Cambridge directly records curious + to-infinitive (including curious to know) and curious about + noun, supporting this narrow contrast.
Use “curious to know/find out…” when curiosity is followed by an infinitive describing what someone wants to learn. Use “curious about something” when the complement names the subject of curiosity.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| desire to learn/find out | curious to + verb | use the infinitive for the learning action |
| subject of curiosity | curious about + noun/-ing | name the topic that interests you |
Quick tests
Learning-action-or-topic test
Does the complement express what someone wants to learn/do, or name the subject of curiosity?
If yes: Use “curious to know/find out/see …” for the infinitive learning action.
If no: Use “curious about + noun/-ing” for the topic or activity.
Caveat: The two patterns can occur in related contexts but express different grammatical relations.
Examples
I am curious to know how the process works.
The infinitive expresses the desire to learn.
I am curious about the process.
“About” names the topic of curiosity.
She was curious about trying the new method.
An -ing phrase can name the activity that interests her.
Further guidance
Core difference
Cambridge documents curious + to-infinitive and curious about + noun as standard complement patterns.
Style Boundary
Use about for the topic/object of curiosity; use to + verb when the complement is the infinitive action of learning or discovering.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Curious (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Direct learner-dictionary evidence for curious about + noun and curious + to-infinitive, including curious to know.