wonderingly
In a way that shows amazement and curious thinking.
Wonderingly means doing something in a way that shows amazement, curiosity, or puzzlement. When you look at something wonderingly, you're studying it with genuine fascination, trying to figure it out or simply marveling at it.
Picture a child examining a praying mantis for the first time, tilting their head and watching its strange triangular face and swiveling movements. That's looking wonderingly. Or imagine a student staring wonderingly at a complex math proof on the board, their expression showing they're genuinely trying to understand how all the pieces fit together.
The word captures that particular quality of attention when someone is actively wondering as they observe. You might ask a question wonderingly when you're genuinely curious and not sure what the answer will be. A character in a story might gaze wonderingly at the stars, lost in thoughts about how vast the universe is.
Wonderingly suggests openness and engagement. It's the opposite of glancing at something with boredom or indifference. When you approach the world wonderingly, you're paying attention in a way that shows you find things genuinely interesting and worth thinking about.