take (someone or something) seriously
idiom
: to treat (someone or something) as being very important and deserving attention or respect
He takes his religious faith seriously.
She's well qualified for the job, so she hopes the company will take her seriously.
His parents threatened to punish him, but he didn't take them seriously, since he had not been punished before.
Most politicians take themselves too seriously.
Examples of take (someone or something) seriously in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Many still find the notion of a wearable XR headset too dystopian to take seriously.
—
India Brown, Robb Report, 31 July 2025
Lawmakers and technology leaders alike could address this anxiety by better communicating the pitfalls and potential of AI, and take seriously the concerns of the public.
—Adam Eichen, The Conversation, 17 July 2025
The Covid era marks the start of America’s social collapse, eventually leading to the politically agitated George Floyd riots — a psychic disintegration that resembles Aster’s previous Hereditary, Midsommar, and Beau Is Afraid, horror-movie spectacles that some impressionable people take seriously.
—Armond White, National Review, 23 July 2025
Trump administration briefs are chock-full of weak arguments that even the court’s conservatives would not take seriously.
—Noah Feldman, Mercury News, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for take (someone or something) seriously
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
India Brown, Robb Report, 31 July 2025
Lawmakers and technology leaders alike could address this anxiety by better communicating the pitfalls and potential of AI, and take seriously the concerns of the public.
—Adam Eichen, The Conversation, 17 July 2025
The Covid era marks the start of America’s social collapse, eventually leading to the politically agitated George Floyd riots — a psychic disintegration that resembles Aster’s previous Hereditary, Midsommar, and Beau Is Afraid, horror-movie spectacles that some impressionable people take seriously.
—Armond White, National Review, 23 July 2025
Trump administration briefs are chock-full of weak arguments that even the court’s conservatives would not take seriously.
—Noah Feldman, Mercury News, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for take (someone or something) seriously
Cite this Entry
“Take (someone or something) seriously.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20%28someone%20or%20something%29%20seriously. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share