seriousness
Americannoun
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earnest or sincere character or attitude.
The proposal was talked about, but I can't say with how much seriousness it was discussed.
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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?
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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.
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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
Etymology
Origin of seriousness
Explanation
Seriousness is a quality of being calmly intent, or serious. Your seriousness will serve you well when you're studying for an important test. You might talk about the seriousness of an argument between two friends, or the seriousness of your math teacher when she expects the class to pay attention. Sometimes seriousness implies a bit of worry, like when you ask about the seriousness of your grandmother's health problems. The noun seriousness comes from an adjective, serious, with a Latin root, serius, which means "weighty, important, or grave."
Vocabulary lists containing seriousness
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.
Yet Mr. Sun’s approach is also singular for its blend of seriousness and whimsy, its combination of complicated structures and memorable melodies, and its commitment to both jazz tradition and sonic innovation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
I do not believe hot coffee carries an innate moral seriousness unavailable to iced.
From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026
A cross-party group of MPs and peers has published a report outlining human rights risks posed by AI, saying new laws are needed to "address the scale and seriousness" of such threats.
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026
“I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today,” Woods said in a statement in March.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
He oscillated hourly between anguish and exhilaration, multiplying fantastically the grandeur of his victories and exaggerating tragically the seriousness of his defeats.
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
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.
