adj
cursory
KUR-suh-ree
Cursory (adj) means Done quickly and without much attention to detail; hasty. Example: “He gave the report only a cursory glance before signing it.”
adj
1
Done quickly and without much attention to detail; hasty.
"He gave the report only a cursory glance before signing it."
"A cursory search of the room turned up nothing unusual."
How to use cursory
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishQuick and surface-level, rather than careful and thorough.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "cursive" (a style of joined handwriting) — they look similar but are unrelated.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
cursory glance
cursory inspection
cursory review
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more cursory
- Superlative
- most cursory
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He gave the report only a _____ glance before signing it.
Etymology
From Latin cursorius, "hasty, of running," from currere, "to run" — the same root as "curriculum" and "current."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for cursory
See all rhymes for cursory →Frequently asked questions
What does “cursory” mean?
The word “cursory” means done quickly and without much attention to detail; hasty. In plain terms, quick and surface-level, rather than careful and thorough.
How do you pronounce “cursory”?
“Cursory” is pronounced KUR-suh-ree (/ˈkɝː.sə.ɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “cursory” in a sentence?
Here is “cursory” used in a sentence: “He gave the report only a cursory glance before signing it.”
What part of speech is “cursory”?
“Cursory” is an adjective.
Where does the word “cursory” come from?
The word “cursory” comes from Latin. From Latin cursorius, "hasty, of running," from currere, "to run" — the same root as "curriculum" and "current.".
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