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

We need the intellectual seriousness to treat this as an empirical question, not something we can settle with dogma.

From The Wall Street Journal

But South Africa has denied this, saying it treats "matters of data security with the utmost seriousness".

From BBC

Such quibbles miss the larger point: Bollywood is examining Islamic terrorism with a seriousness that’s long overdue.

From The Wall Street Journal

John Pierce, commission director of enforcement at the Gambling Commission, said the size of the payment "reflects the seriousness of the failings identified".

From BBC

He treated a family child care provider in West Oakland with the same seriousness as he would a state legislator.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• enormity
• gravity
• importance
• significance
• urgency