seriousness

[seer-ee-uhs-nis]

noun

1. earnest or sincere character or attitude.

   The proposal was talked about, but I can't say with how much seriousness it was discussed.

2. solemn or somber character or attitude.

   Is that why your face is so grim—you're fighting to maintain seriousness and not laugh at the speaker’s name?

3. the quality of showing or requiring deep thought or concentration.

   The two chefs approach their gourmet cuisine with the pensive seriousness others might bring to a difficult math problem.

4. the quality of being important or weighty, or of giving cause for concern.

   We need educational tools that convey the seriousness of copyright infringement, as well as its consequences and penalties.

Other Word Forms

• half-seriousness noun
• nonseriousness noun
• overseriousness noun
• superseriousness noun
• ultraseriousness noun
• unseriousness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of seriousness¹

serious ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Example Sentences

He added that the girl had not appeared to understand the seriousness of the situation.

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But they also both suffer from what might be described as an excess of dramatic seriousness, which is especially true of “Anemone.”

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Now there is new guidance for these types of cases, including more detail about how to assess the seriousness of allegations.

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The seriousness of Earick's advances will become much clearer in the coming weeks.

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Teammates and onlookers at Guy's Meadow Stadium rushed to her aid and several phoned for an ambulance after realising the seriousness of her injury.

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Related Words

• enormity 
• gravity 
• importance 
• significance 
• urgency