serious

[ seer-ee-uhs ]

adjective

1. of, showing, or characterized by deep thought.
2. of grave or somber disposition, character, or manner:

   a serious occasion; a serious man.

   Synonyms: staid, sedate, sober

3. being in earnest; sincere; not trifling:

   His interest was serious.

   Antonyms: trifling, frivolous

4. requiring thought, concentration, or application:

   serious reading; a serious task.

5. weighty or important:

   a serious book; Marriage is a serious matter.

   Synonyms: grave, momentous

   Antonyms: trivial

6. giving cause for apprehension; critical:

   The plan has one serious flaw.

7. Medicine/Medical. (of a patient's condition) having unstable or otherwise abnormal vital signs and other unfavorable indicators, as loss of appetite and poor mobility: patient is acutely ill.

noun

1. that which is of importance, grave, critical, or somber:

   You have to learn to separate the serious from the frivolous.

serious

/ ˈsɪərɪəs /

adjective

1. grave in nature or disposition; thoughtful

   a serious person

2. marked by deep feeling; in earnest; sincere

   is he serious or joking?

3. concerned with important matters

   a serious conversation

4. requiring effort or concentration

   a serious book

5. giving rise to fear or anxiety; critical

   a serious illness

6. informal.
   worthy of regard because of substantial quantity or quality

   serious money

   serious wine

7. informal.
   extreme or remarkable

   a serious haircut

Derived Forms

• ˈseriousness, noun

Other Words From

• se·ri·ous·ness noun
• half-se·ri·ous adjective
• half-se·ri·ous·ly adverb
• non·se·ri·ous adjective
• non·se·ri·ous·ly adverb
• o·ver·se·ri·ous adjective
• o·ver·se·ri·ous·ly adverb
• qua·si-se·ri·ous adjective
• qua·si-se·ri·ous·ly adverb
• su·per·se·ri·ous adjective
• su·per·se·ri·ous·ly adverb
• ul·tra·se·ri·ous adjective
• ul·tra·se·ri·ous·ly adverb
• un·se·ri·ous adjective
• un·se·ri·ous·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of serious¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Middle French serieux and Latin sērius “grave, earnest” or Late Latin sēriōsus; -ous, -ose ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of serious¹

C15: from Late Latin sēriōsus, from Latin sērius; probably related to Old English swǣr gloomy, Gothic swers esteemed

Synonym Study

See earnest ¹.

Example Sentences

"If that restriction was to be lifted, I believe that would be a huge pull factor and it would have potentially serious consequences," she said.

From BBC

Perhaps the best we can hope for in some of these agencies is that they'll flounder about for a while without any serious results.

From Salon

There were some mild side effects such as nausea and dizziness, but no serious ones, say the researchers.

From BBC

Stuart asked if Rayner agreed that "serious consequences are right and just in such cases".

From BBC

You need serious flowers — distinctive, unusual and befitting a special occasion.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dangerous
• deep
• difficult
• far-reaching
• grievous
• important
• major
• meaningful
• severe
• significant
• tough
• urgent