seriously
Americanadverb
-
in a serious manner.
He shook his head seriously.
-
to an alarmingly grave extent.
seriously ill.
-
with genuine, earnest intent; sincerely.
Seriously, kids, we have to get home before dark.
adverb
-
in a serious manner or to a serious degree
-
informal extremely or remarkably
seriously tall
Etymology
Origin of seriously
Explanation
When you do something seriously, you do it earnestly or thoughtfully. If you seriously consider walking the Appalachian Trail, it means that you put real effort and thought into contemplating such a trip. If your boss speaks seriously to you, you know she means what she's saying, and if you think seriously about what a fortune teller told you, it means that you really consider what she said your future might bring. You can also use seriously to mean significantly, or to a worrying degree, like being seriously ill with the flu. Informally, seriously also means very or truly, like when you are seriously hungry.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The two seriously wounded were boys between the ages of 12 and 17, one of whom was in emergency surgery though both were in stable condition, the healthcare authority said on its website.
From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026
Traders’ reaction was that it’s better to take it seriously and see what happens next, says Baron Lamarre, co-founder of Index Litro and former head of trading at Petronas.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
"When his MLA group don't even know that Mike has resigned and they find out through the media, then there is something seriously wrong about how they are being treated."
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
Count on it if athletic directors and principals don’t take their jobs seriously to give scrutiny to transfer paperwork and make home visits.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
These personal attacks devastated Rachel Jackson, and she soon became seriously ill.
From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
