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

Derived Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of seriousness

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

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."

Example Sentences

There was a striking seriousness to the whole performance, which spanned from just past 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026

She has found that people often underestimate the seriousness of allergies.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

Jack Caskey and Jerome Sperling, who would play significant roles on the Greek Desk, were chided for their rule-following, caution and seriousness, qualities that any sensible archaeologist might otherwise aspire to.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026

But such is the scale and seriousness of the charges, in such an event, critics will inevitably argue that his many accomplishments are tainted, even those that occurred after the period the case relates to.

From BBC • May 19, 2026

“She is an excellent headmistress,” Penelope said in all seriousness, but for some reason the remark made her parents laugh.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• enormity
• gravity
• importance
• significance
• urgency