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

The pulps brought new readers to serious fiction, making it less intimidating with alluring art and low prices.

From The Daily Beast

I like the idea of Jon Hamm… There have been discussions—though I'm not sure how serious they've been.

From The Daily Beast

Whatever the reason, and however absurd their beliefs may seem, American evangelicals are deadly serious.

From The Daily Beast

He said it was okay, that he had been busy too… busy fighting serious intestinal problems.

From The Daily Beast

The “nature of the crime” was too serious to release him, they said.

From The Daily Beast

Joe looked at her with a smile, his face still solemn and serious for all its youth and the fires of new-lit hope behind his eyes.

From Project Gutenberg

It is the dramatic impulse of childhood endeavouring to bring life into the dulness of the serious hours.

From Project Gutenberg

Between South and North, the probabilities of a serious, and no very distant rupture, are strong and manifest.

From Project Gutenberg

Never then was there a moment in which there was greater need for sane and serious thought.

From Project Gutenberg

Though the amount played for is serious, a good deal of rather bald conversation and chaff goes on.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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