seriousness

[seer-ee-uhs-nis]

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.

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of seriousness¹

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

Example Sentences

"We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority," the statement read.

Read more on BBC

Thursday’s flights signal “seriousness and intent,” said David Deptula, a retired Air Force general and Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, an aerospace think tank.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority,” a league statement said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority," the statement said.

Read more on BBC

The provincial department said it was "treating the matter with the seriousness it warrants".

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• enormity 
• gravity 
• importance 
• significance 
• urgency