serious

[ seer-ee-uhs ]

/ ˈsɪər i əs /

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See synonyms for: serious / seriousness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

of, showing, or characterized by deep thought.

of grave or somber disposition, character, or manner: a serious occasion; a serious man.

being in earnest; sincere; not trifling: His interest was serious.

requiring thought, concentration, or application: serious reading; a serious task.

weighty or important: a serious book; Marriage is a serious matter.

giving cause for apprehension; critical: The plan has one serious flaw.

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

that which is of importance, grave, critical, or somber: You have to learn to separate the serious from the frivolous.

OTHER WORDS FOR serious

2 sober, sedate, staid.

5 momentous, grave.

See synonyms for serious on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR serious

3 frivolous, trifling.

5 trivial.

See antonyms for serious on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of serious

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Middle French serieux and Latin sērius “grave, earnest” or Late Latin sēriōsus; see -ous, -ose¹

synonym study for serious

3. See earnest¹.

OTHER WORDS FROM serious

se·ri·ous·ness, nounhalf-se·ri·ous, adjectivehalf-se·ri·ous·ly, adverbnon·se·ri·ous, adjective

non·se·ri·ous·ly, adverbo·ver·se·ri·ous, adjectiveo·ver·se·ri·ous·ly, adverbqua·si-se·ri·ous, adjectivequa·si-se·ri·ous·ly, adverbsu·per·se·ri·ous, adjectivesu·per·se·ri·ous·ly, adverbul·tra·se·ri·ous, adjectiveul·tra·se·ri·ous·ly, adverbun·se·ri·ous, adjectiveun·se·ri·ous·ly, adverb

Words nearby serious

serin, serine, seringa, Seringapatam, seriocomic, serious, seriously, serious-minded, seriousness, seriplane, serjeant

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use serious in a sentence

The pulps brought new readers to serious fiction, making it less intimidating with alluring art and low prices.
How Pulp Fiction Saved Literature|Wendy Smith|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I like the idea of Jon Hamm… There have been discussions—though I'm not sure how serious they've been.
‘Archer’ Creator Adam Reed Spills Season 6 Secrets, From Surreal Plotlines to Life Post-ISIS|Marlow Stern|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Whatever the reason, and however absurd their beliefs may seem, American evangelicals are deadly serious.
The Evangelical Apocalypse Is All Your Fault|Jay Michaelson|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
He said it was okay, that he had been busy too… busy fighting serious intestinal problems.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST

The “nature of the crime” was too serious to release him, they said.
His First Day Out Of Jail After 40 Years: Adjusting To Life Outside|Justin Rohrlich|January 3, 2015|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.
The Bondboy|George W. (George Washington) Ogden
It is the dramatic impulse of childhood endeavouring to bring life into the dulness of the serious hours.
Children's Ways|James Sully
Between South and North, the probabilities of a serious, and no very distant rupture, are strong and manifest.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846|Various
Never then was there a moment in which there was greater need for sane and serious thought.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
Though the amount played for is serious, a good deal of rather bald conversation and chaff goes on.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills

British Dictionary definitions for serious

serious

/ (ˈsɪərɪəs) /

adjective

grave in nature or disposition; thoughtfula serious person

marked by deep feeling; in earnest; sincereis he serious or joking?

concerned with important mattersa serious conversation

requiring effort or concentrationa serious book

giving rise to fear or anxiety; criticala serious illness

informal worthy of regard because of substantial quantity or qualityserious money; serious wine

informal extreme or remarkablea serious haircut

Derived forms of serious

seriousness, noun

Word Origin for serious

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

serious

OTHER WORDS FOR serious

OPPOSITES FOR serious

Origin of serious

synonym study for serious

OTHER WORDS FROM serious

Words nearby serious

Words related to serious

How to use serious in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for serious

Derived forms of serious

Word Origin for serious