seriousness

American

[seer-ee-uhs-nis] / ˈsɪər i əs nɪs /

noun

earnest or sincere character or attitude.

The proposal was talked about, but I can't say with how much seriousness it was discussed.
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?
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.
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

Etymology

Origin of seriousness

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

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.

“I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today,” Woods said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

She expects this trend to continue, “given the seriousness of this condition and the potential with Vykat XR.”

From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026

“TBPN,” shorthand for Technology Business Programming Network, treats technology news with the seriousness of a sportscaster describing a winning play.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

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

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026

Wielding their harmless foils, Hamlet and Laertes thrust and feinted with a mortal seriousness.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023