seriousness
Americannoun
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earnest or sincere character or attitude.
The proposal was talked about, but I can't say with how much seriousness it was discussed.
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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?
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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.
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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
Etymology
Origin of seriousness
Explanation
Seriousness is a quality of being calmly intent, or serious. Your seriousness will serve you well when you're studying for an important test. You might talk about the seriousness of an argument between two friends, or the seriousness of your math teacher when she expects the class to pay attention. Sometimes seriousness implies a bit of worry, like when you ask about the seriousness of your grandmother's health problems. The noun seriousness comes from an adjective, serious, with a Latin root, serius, which means "weighty, important, or grave."
Vocabulary lists containing seriousness
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The prosecution said that due to the seriousness of the situation and lack of response, the soldier had made a formal complaint to North Wales Police and contacted his MP.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
I do demand a certain seriousness, but I’m learning from them, and they’re learning from me.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
Forsyth added: "This substantial court penalty reflects the seriousness of the offences and sends a clear message that businesses must take their responsibilities seriously."
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
Mr. James, making his Tanglewood and BSO debuts, lent his all-important part tangible seriousness without pomposity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
So when I started explaining McCoy and Celia and everything that had happened this year, she absorbed it the way my parents absorbed war documentaries: with complete seriousness.
From "Made You Up" by Francesca Zappia
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
