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

And Lucky’s monologue—veering inanely through realms including religion, academics and sports—is delivered by Mr. Thornton not, as it usually is, as a galloping pile of gabble, but with a musing seriousness.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The high-profile delegation shows the president’s seriousness on securing a deal, despite significant concerns about the terms among all the parties involved.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"It's been horrific. I can't describe the pain... we need to get into schools and educate kids of the seriousness and the pure devastation that carrying knives can bring."

Read more on BBC

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

Read more on BBC

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

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• enormity 
• gravity 
• importance 
• significance 
• urgency