serious

[ seer-ee-uhs ]

/ ˈsɪər i əs /

Save This Word!

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.

SYNONYMS FOR serious

2 sober, sedate, staid.

5 momentous, grave.

See synonyms for serious on Thesaurus.com

ANTONYMS FOR serious

3, 5 trivial.

See antonyms for serious on Thesaurus.com

QUIZZES

THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?

Did you ever collect all those state quarters? Put them to good use on this quiz about curious state monikers and the facts around them.

Question 1 of 8

Mississippi’s nickname comes from the magnificent trees that grow there. What is it?

The Sunflower State

The Evergreen State

The Magnolia State

The Mockingbird State

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, adverbhalf-se·ri·ous·ness, noun

non·se·ri·ous, adjectivenon·se·ri·ous·ly, adverbnon·se·ri·ous·ness, nouno·ver·se·ri·ous, adjectiveo·ver·se·ri·ous·ly, adverbo·ver·se·ri·ous·ness, nounqua·si-se·ri·ous, adjectivequa·si-se·ri·ous·ly, adverbsu·per·se·ri·ous, adjectivesu·per·se·ri·ous·ly, adverbsu·per·se·ri·ous·ness, nounul·tra·se·ri·ous, adjectiveul·tra·se·ri·ous·ly, adverbul·tra·se·ri·ous·ness, nounun·se·ri·ous, adjectiveun·se·ri·ous·ly, adverbun·se·ri·ous·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for serious

If nothing else, the sheer size of the “religious liberty” movement indicates its seriousness of purpose.
RFRA Madness: What’s Next for Anti-Democratic ‘Religious Exemptions’|Jay Michaelson|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But “he was so shocked by the disorganization and lack of seriousness that he submitted his papers to retire.”
The CIA’s Wrong: Arming Rebels Works|Christopher Dickey|October 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It takes the seriousness out of dating and makes casual sex easier to find.
Swipe Right For Sex: Mixxxer Is Tinder for the Porn Star Set|Aurora Snow|October 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Anyone who had any doubts about his seriousness soon lost them because it was clear that Peter was hardcore.
ISIS Thugs Behead Peter Kassig|Nick Schwellenbach|October 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST

How from now on we were going to be seeing in Prince Harry nothing but a model of discretion, seriousness and best behaviour?
Prince Harry Parties TOPLESS|Tom Sykes|July 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This demand was made with scornful seriousness; with a ruthless application to the feelings of a son.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
No man opens his ware with greater seriousness, or challenges your judgment more in the operation.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
Vincent Alsop died; a presbyterian clergyman, who attacked Dr. Sherlock with great wit and some seriousness.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
Puffin was always well received at The Warren; he amused the squire by the seriousness of his arguments about trifling things.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume II (of 3)|Charles James Wills
His manner is somewhat nervous, a look of intense seriousness in his heavy-browed eyes.
Prison Memoirs of an Anarchist|Alexander Berkman

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

Medical definitions for serious

serious

[ sîr′ē-əs ]

adj.

Being of such import as to cause anxiety, as of a physical condition.

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

serious

adjective

noun

SYNONYMS FOR serious

ANTONYMS FOR serious

QUIZZES

THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?

Origin of serious

synonym study for serious

OTHER WORDS FROM serious

Example sentences from the Web for serious

British Dictionary definitions for serious

adjective

Derived forms of serious

Word Origin for serious

Medical definitions for serious

adj.

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

serious

adjective

noun

SYNONYMS FOR serious

ANTONYMS FOR serious

QUIZZES

THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?

Origin of serious

synonym study for serious

OTHER WORDS FROM serious

Words related to serious

Example sentences from the Web for serious

British Dictionary definitions for serious

adjective

Derived forms of serious

Word Origin for serious

Medical definitions for serious

adj.