serious

[ seer-ee-uhs ]
/ ˈsɪər i əs /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR serious ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

noun

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

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to serious

genuine, deliberate, sincere, thoughtful, honest, severe, major, grievous, dangerous, deep, far-reaching, urgent, important, significant, tough, meaningful, difficult, sober, austere, bound

Example sentences from the Web for serious

British Dictionary definitions for serious

serious
/ (ˈsɪərɪəs) /

adjective

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.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.