serious

serious
[[t]sɪ͟əriəs[/t]]
♦
1) ADJ-GRADED Serious problems or situations are very bad and cause people to be worried or afraid.

Crime is an increasingly serious problem in Russian society...

The government still face very serious difficulties...

Doctors said his condition was serious but stable.

Syn:
Derived words:
seriously ADV-GRADED ADV adj/adv, ADV with v

If this ban was to come in it would seriously damage my business...

They are not thought to be seriously hurt.

seriousness N-UNCOUNT oft N of n

...the seriousness of the crisis.

2) ADJ-GRADED Serious matters are important and deserve careful and thoughtful consideration.

I regard this as a serious matter...

Don't laugh boy. This is serious.

...the serious business of running the country.

3) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n When important matters are dealt with in a serious way, they are given careful and thoughtful consideration.

My parents never really faced up to my drug use in any serious way...

It was a question which deserved serious consideration.

...serious discussions.

Derived words:
seriously ADV-GRADED ADV with v

The management will have to think seriously about their positions.

4) ADJ: ADJ n Serious music or literature requires concentration to understand or appreciate it.

...serious classical music...

There is no point reviewing a blockbuster as you might review a serious novel.

5) ADJ-GRADED: oft ADJ about n If someone is serious about something, they are sincere about what they are saying, doing, or intending to do.

You really are serious about this, aren't you?...

I hope you're not serious.

Derived words:
seriously ADV ADV adj/adv, ADV with v

Are you seriously jealous of Erica?

seriousness N-UNCOUNT oft N of n

In all seriousness, there is nothing else I can do...

They had shown a commitment and seriousness of purpose.

6) ADJ-GRADED Serious people are thoughtful and quiet, and do not laugh very often.

He's quite a serious person...

She looked at me with big, serious eyes.

Derived words:
seriously ADV-GRADED ADV with v

They spoke to me very seriously but politely.

7) ADJ: ADJ n Serious money is a very large amount of money. [INFORMAL]

He started earning serious money only in the sixties.

Derived words:
seriously ADV ADV adj

What's it like to be seriously rich at 15?


English dictionary. 2008.

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  • serious — I (devoted) adjective ardent, assiduous, decided, dedicated, determined, devout, dogged, dutiful, eager, earnest, faithful, fervent, firm, fixed, intent, loyal, passionate, purposeful, relentless, resolute, resolved, settled, sincere, steadfast,… …   Law dictionary

  • serious — serious, grave, solemn, somber, sedate, staid, sober, earnest may be applied to persons, their looks, or their acts with the meaning not light or frivolous but actually or seemingly weighed down by deep thought, heavy cares, or purposive or… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • serious — [sir′ē əs] adj. [ME seryows < ML seriosus < L serius, grave, orig., prob. weighty, heavy < ? IE base * swer > OE swær, heavy, sad, Goth swers, important, orig., heavy] 1. of, showing, having, or caused by earnestness or deep thought;… …   English World dictionary

  • Serious — may refer to: * Serious (Duran Duran song), a single from the album Liberty * Serious (Duffy song) the fourth single of her debut album. * Serious (Gwen song) , a song from Gwen Stefani s album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. * Serious (TV series) , a… …   Wikipedia

  • Serious — Se ri*ous, a. [L. serius: cf. F. s[ e]rieux, LL. seriosus.] 1. Grave in manner or disposition; earnest; thoughtful; solemn; not light, gay, or volatile. [1913 Webster] He is always serious, yet there is about his manner a graceful ease. Macaulay …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • serious — ► ADJECTIVE 1) demanding or characterized by careful consideration or application. 2) solemn or thoughtful. 3) sincere and in earnest, rather than joking or half hearted. 4) significant or worrying in terms of danger or risk: serious injury. 5)… …   English terms dictionary

  • serious — [adj1] somber, humorless austere, bound, bound and determined*, businesslike, cold sober*, contemplative, deadpan*, deliberate, determined, downbeat*, earnest, funereal, genuine, go for broke*, grave, grim, honest, intent, long faced*, meditative …   New thesaurus

  • serious — mid 15c., expressing earnest purpose or thought (of persons), from M.Fr. sérieux grave, earnest (14c.), from L.L. seriosus, from L. serius weighty, important, grave, probably from a PIE root *swer (Cf. Lith. sveriu to weigh, lift, svarus heavy; O …   Etymology dictionary

  • serious — se|ri|ous W1S1 [ˈsıəriəs US ˈsır ] adj ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(situation/problem)¦ 2 be serious 3¦(important)¦ 4¦(large amount)¦ 5¦(romantic relationship)¦ 6¦(person)¦ 7¦(sport/activity)¦ 8¦(very good)¦ 9¦(worried/unhappy)¦ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ [ …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • serious — se|ri|ous [ sıriəs ] adjective *** ▸ 1 bad enough to worry you ▸ 2 deserving attention ▸ 3 not joking ▸ 4 careful and detailed ▸ 5 not laughing much ▸ 6 involving difficult ideas ▸ 7 involving strong feelings ▸ 8 caring about activity ▸ 9… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • serious — adjective 1 SITUATION/PROBLEM a serious situation, problem, accident etc is extremely bad or dangerous: a serious illness | How serious do you think the situation is? | serious crime: The number of serious crimes has increased dramatically in the …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

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