serious

se·ri·ous

adjective \ˈsir-ē-əs\

Definition of SERIOUS

1

: thoughtful or subdued in appearance or manner : sober <a quiet, serious girl>

2

a : requiring much thought or work <serious study>

b : of or relating to a matter of importance <a serious play>

3

a : not joking or trifling : being in earnest <a serious question>

b archaic : pious

c : deeply interested : devoted <a serious musician>

4

a : not easily answered or solved <serious objections>

b : having important or dangerous possible consequences <a serious injury>

5

: excessive or impressive in quality, quantity, extent, or degree <serious stereo equipment> <making serious money> <serious drinking>

— se·ri·ous·ness noun

Examples of SERIOUS

1. “You sound terrible.” “It's just a bad cold. Nothing serious.”
2. For my brother, not going to college was a serious mistake.
3. Crime is a serious problem in this neighborhood.
4. The team is a serious contender for the championship.
5. If you want to quit smoking, you have to make a serious effort.
6. They had a serious conversation about their relationship.
7. a serious novel about modern life
8. The story raises serious questions about our system of justice.
9. Dog shows are a serious business.
10. She is a serious cyclist who rides 200 miles each week.

Origin of SERIOUS

Middle English seryows, from Anglo-French or Late Latin; Anglo-French serious, from Late Latin seriosus, alteration of Latin serius weighty, serious; probably akin to Old English swǣr heavy, sad

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to SERIOUS

Synonyms

earnest, grave, humorless, no-nonsense, po-faced [British], sedate, severe, sober, sobersided, solemn, staid, uncomic, unsmiling, weighty

Antonyms

facetious, flip, flippant, humorous, jesting, jocular, joking, kittenish, ludic, playful

Related Words

harsh, stern, strict; businesslike, professional; dignified, distinguished, elevated, serious-minded; gloomy, grim

Near Antonyms

antic, comic, comical, droll, farcical, funny, hilarious, hysterical (also hysteric), laughable, light, light-headed, ludicrous, ridiculous, riotous, risible, screaming, sidesplitting, uproarious; featherbrained, flighty, frivolous, goofy, harebrained, lighthearted, puerile, scatterbrained; absurd, asinine, balmy, brainless, cockeyed, crazy, cuckoo, daffy, daft, dotty, fatuous, foolish, half-witted, insane, jerky, kooky (also kookie), loony (also looney), lunatic, mad, nonsensical, nutty, preposterous, sappy, screwball, senseless, silly, unwise, wacky (also whacky), weak-minded, witless, zany

Synonym Discussion of SERIOUS

serious, grave, solemn, sedate, staid, sober, earnest mean not light or frivolous. serious implies a concern for what really matters <a serious play about social injustice>. grave implies both seriousness and dignity in expression or attitude <read the proclamation in a grave voice>. solemn suggests an impressive gravity utterly free from levity <a sad and solemn occasion>. sedate implies a composed and decorous seriousness <remained sedate amid the commotion>. staid suggests a settled, accustomed sedateness and prim self-restraint <a quiet and staid community>. sober stresses seriousness of purpose and absence of levity or frivolity <a sober look at the state of our schools>. earnest suggests sincerity or often zealousness of purpose <an earnest reformer>.

Rhymes with SERIOUS

cereus, Nereus, Sirius

se·ri·ous

adjective \ˈsir-ē-əs\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of SERIOUS

: having important or dangerous possible consequences <a serious injury>