seriousness

American  

[seer-ee-uhs-nis] / ˈsɪər i əs nɪs /

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.

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Other Word Forms

• half-seriousness noun
• nonseriousness noun
• overseriousness noun
• superseriousness noun
• ultraseriousness noun
• unseriousness noun

Etymology

Origin of seriousness

serious ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Example Sentences

It’s a delicate balancing act between work, school, baseball and the seriousness of being a parent as a teenager.

From Los Angeles Times

He said the Nazi regime was "the most barbaric ever, and I'd never make light of nor dilute its seriousness".

From BBC

That is a readiness target, not a go date, but it has become shorthand to convey the threat’s seriousness.

From The Wall Street Journal

So, any indication that it is being targeted is taken with the utmost seriousness by Israel.

From BBC

“The market is underestimating the seriousness of the situation.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• enormity
• gravity
• importance
• significance
• urgency