serious
[seer-ee-uhs]
- 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.
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- that which is of importance, grave, critical, or somber: You have to learn to separate the serious from the frivolous.
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Origin of serious
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comAntonyms
3, 5. trivial.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
earnestnesssolemnitygravitysincerityimportanceenormityurgencysignificancesobrietysternnessstaidnesscoolnessearnestsedatenesscalmnessthoughtfulnessintentnessmomentweightExamples from the Web for seriousness
Contemporary Examples
If nothing else, the sheer size of the “religious liberty” movement indicates its seriousness of purpose.
But “he was so shocked by the disorganization and lack of seriousness that he submitted his papers to retire.”
It takes the seriousness out of dating and makes casual sex easier to find.
Anyone who had any doubts about his seriousness soon lost them because it was clear that Peter was hardcore.
How from now on we were going to be seeing in Prince Harry nothing but a model of discretion, seriousness and best behaviour?
Historical Examples
"It were hard to say," replied Mr. Raymount with some seriousness.
Weighed and WantingGeorge MacDonald
Dick went on speaking with a seriousness suited to the magnitude of his interests.
Within the LawMarvin Dana
His surprise would have been ludicrous but for the seriousness of the situation to all concerned.
Within the LawMarvin Dana
Notwithstanding, she possessed in full the Brontë seriousness, the Brontë strength of will.
The Tenant of Wildfell HallAnne Bronte
I mean to say, it could hardly have been meant in all seriousness.
Ruggles of Red GapHarry Leon Wilson
serious
- 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
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Word Origin
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
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Word Origin and History for seriousness
serious
adj.
mid-15c., "expressing earnest purpose or thought" (of persons), from Middle French sérieux "grave, earnest" (14c.), from Late Latin seriosus, from Latin serius "weighty, important, grave," probably from a PIE root *swer- (4) "heavy" (cf. Lithuanian sveriu "to weigh, lift," svarus "heavy;" Old English swære "heavy," German schwer "heavy," Gothic swers "honored, esteemed," literally "weighty"). As opposite of jesting, from 1712; as opposite of light (of music, theater, etc.), from 1762. Meaning "attended with danger" is from 1800.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
serious
(sîr′ē-əs)- Being of such import as to cause anxiety, as of a physical condition.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.