serious
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se·ri·ous
(sîr′ē-əs)adj.
1. Thoughtful, somber, or grave in manner: He became serious when he was asked about the economy.
2. Not joking or trifling: I was serious when I said I liked your haircut.
3. Deeply interested or involved: a serious golfer.
4. Meriting great concern: a serious illness; a serious mistake.
5. Performed with careful thought: a serious effort to reform tax policy.
6. Pertaining to important rather than trivial matters: a serious discussion.
7. Sincerely meant: mistook a sarcastic comment for a serious question.
8. Intended for sophisticated people: serious music.
9. Informal Of considerable size or scope; substantial: a serious amount of money.
[Middle English, from Old French serieux, from Late Latin sēriōsus, from Latin sērius.]
se′ri·ous·ly adv.
se′ri·ous·ness n.
Synonyms: serious, sober, grave2, solemn, earnest1
These adjectives refer to manner, appearance, disposition, or acts marked by absorption in thought, pressing concerns, or significant work. Serious implies a concern with responsibility and work as opposed to play: serious students of music. Sober emphasizes circumspection and self-restraint: "When ... his sober demeanor gave way at the graveside, it was with the severity of one bereft beyond redemption" (Philip Roth).
Grave suggests the dignity and somberness associated with weighty matters: "a little girl with brownish-blackish hair standing at one of those windows like a grave captain at the prow of a ship" (Stacey D'Erasmo).
Solemn often adds to grave the suggestion of impressiveness: The judge was solemn when issuing the sentence. Earnest implies sincerity and intensity of purpose: We are earnest in our desire to reach an equitable solution.
These adjectives refer to manner, appearance, disposition, or acts marked by absorption in thought, pressing concerns, or significant work. Serious implies a concern with responsibility and work as opposed to play: serious students of music. Sober emphasizes circumspection and self-restraint: "When ... his sober demeanor gave way at the graveside, it was with the severity of one bereft beyond redemption" (Philip Roth).
Grave suggests the dignity and somberness associated with weighty matters: "a little girl with brownish-blackish hair standing at one of those windows like a grave captain at the prow of a ship" (Stacey D'Erasmo).
Solemn often adds to grave the suggestion of impressiveness: The judge was solemn when issuing the sentence. Earnest implies sincerity and intensity of purpose: We are earnest in our desire to reach an equitable solution.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
serious
(ˈsɪərɪəs)adj
1. grave in nature or disposition; thoughtful: a serious person.
2. marked by deep feeling; in earnest; sincere: is he serious or joking?.
3. concerned with important matters: a serious conversation.
4. requiring effort or concentration: a serious book.
5. giving rise to fear or anxiety; critical: a serious illness.
6. informal worthy of regard because of substantial quantity or quality: serious money; serious wine.
7. informal extreme or remarkable: a serious haircut.
[C15: from Late Latin sēriōsus, from Latin sērius; probably related to Old English swǣr gloomy, Gothic swers esteemed]
ˈseriousness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
se•ri•ous
(ˈsɪər i əs)adj.
1. of, showing, or characterized by deep thought.
2. grave or somber, as in character, disposition, or mood.
3. earnest; sincere; not trifling: a serious proposal.
4. requiring thought, concentration, or application: serious reading.
5. weighty, important, or significant: Marriage is a serious matter.
6. giving cause for apprehension; critical or threatening: a serious relapse.
7. arising from deep concern, perplexity, etc.: serious questions.
se′ri•ous•ly, adv.
se′ri•ous•ness, n.
syn: See earnest1.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
serious
1. 'serious'
You say that a problem or situation is serious when it is bad enough to make people worried or afraid.
Bad housing is one of the most serious problems in the inner cities.
...a serious illness.
Serious matters are important and deserve careful consideration.
It's time to get down to the serious business of the meeting.
I think this is a serious point.
People who are serious are thoughtful and quiet and do not often make jokes.
...a rather serious girl.
You can also describe someone's expression as serious.
She had a serious, thoughtful face.
Don't look so serious!
2. 'serious about'
If someone is serious about doing something that they have talked about doing, they really intend to do it.
This would prove that we were serious about overcoming the obstacles.
If the government is serious about encouraging us to save, it should overhaul the system.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Adj. | 1. | serious - concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities; "a serious student of history"; "a serious attempt to learn to ski"; "gave me a serious look"; "a serious young man"; "are you serious or joking?"; "Don't be so serious!" frivolous - not serious in content or attitude or behavior; "a frivolous novel"; "a frivolous remark"; "a frivolous young woman" |
| 2. | serious - of great consequence; "marriage is a serious matter" | |
| 3. | serious - causing fear or anxiety by threatening great harm; "a dangerous operation"; "a grave situation"; "a grave illness"; "grievous bodily harm"; "a serious wound"; "a serious turn of events"; "a severe case of pneumonia"; "a life-threatening disease" critical - being in or verging on a state of crisis or emergency; "a critical shortage of food"; "a critical illness"; "an illness at the critical stage" | |
| 4. | serious - appealing to the mind; "good music"; "a serious book" intellectual - appealing to or using the intellect; "satire is an intellectual weapon"; "intellectual workers engaged in creative literary or artistic or scientific labor"; "has tremendous intellectual sympathy for oppressed people"; "coldly intellectual"; "sort of the intellectual type"; "intellectual literature" | |
| 5. |  serious - completely lacking in playfulness | |
| 6. | serious - requiring effort or concentration; complex and not easy to answer or solve; "raised serious objections to the proposal"; "the plan has a serious flaw" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
serious
adjective
1. grave, bad, critical, worrying, dangerous, acute, alarming, severe, extreme, grievous His condition was serious but stable.
2. important, crucial, urgent, pressing, difficult, worrying, deep, significant, grim, far-reaching, momentous, fateful, weighty, no laughing matter, of moment or consequence I regard this as a serious matter.
important insignificant, minor, trivial, slight, unimportant
important insignificant, minor, trivial, slight, unimportant
3. thoughtful, detailed, careful, deep, profound, in-depth It was a question which deserved serious consideration.
4. deep, cultured, intellectual, literary, sophisticated, scholarly, heavyweight, highbrow, highbrowed a serious novel
5. solemn, earnest, grave, stern, sober, thoughtful, sedate, glum, staid, humourless, long-faced, pensive, unsmiling He's quite a serious person.
solemn jolly, frivolous, carefree, smiling, joyful, flippant, light-hearted, funny
solemn jolly, frivolous, carefree, smiling, joyful, flippant, light-hearted, funny
6. sincere, determined, earnest, resolved, genuine, deliberate, honest, resolute, in earnest You really are serious about this, aren't you?
sincere undecided, frivolous, insincere, capricious, flippant, uncommitted, flighty
sincere undecided, frivolous, insincere, capricious, flippant, uncommitted, flighty
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
serious
adjective1. Full of or marked by dignity and seriousness:
2. Marked by sober sincerity:
Idiom: in earnest.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
جادجاد، صادِقجَدّي، رَزينجِدِّيّخَطِر، خَطير
vážnýnáročnýopravdový
alvorligfarligseriøs
serioza
vakava
ozbiljanvažanznačajanhladan
komolysúlyos
alvarleguralvarlegur, hættulegureinlægur
深刻な
심각한
rimtaižiūrėti į ką rimtai
dziļšgudrsnopietnssmagsvisā nopietnībā
resen
allvarligseriös
ร้ายแรง
nghiêm trọng
serious
[ˈsɪərɪəs] ADJ1. (= in earnest, not frivolous) [person] → serio, formal; [expression, discussion, newspaper, music] → serio
a rather serious girl → una chica bastante seria or formal
are you serious? → ¿lo dices en serio?
you can't be serious! → no lo dices en serio, ¿verdad?
gentlemen, let's be serious → señores, un poco de formalidad
to be serious about sth/sb she's serious about her studies → se toma sus estudios en serio
are you serious about giving up the job? → ¿hablas en serio de dejar el trabajo?
he is serious about his threat → sus amenazas van en serio
he's serious about leaving home → está decidido a irse de casa
is she serious about him? → ¿va ella en serio con él?
they haven't made a serious attempt to solve the problem → no han intentado realmente resolver el problema
the serious business of running the country → la importante tarea de gobernar el país
eating shellfish is a serious business in France → comer marisco no es algo que se tome a la ligera en Francia
to give serious consideration to sth → considerar algo seriamente
to take a serious interest in sth → interesarse seriamente por algo
don't look so serious! → ¡no te pongas tan serio!
on a more serious note → pasando a un tema más serio
all serious offers considered → cualquier oferta (que sea) seria se tendrá en cuenta
to give serious thought to sth → considerar algo seriamente
see also deadly B
a rather serious girl → una chica bastante seria or formal
are you serious? → ¿lo dices en serio?
you can't be serious! → no lo dices en serio, ¿verdad?
gentlemen, let's be serious → señores, un poco de formalidad
to be serious about sth/sb she's serious about her studies → se toma sus estudios en serio
are you serious about giving up the job? → ¿hablas en serio de dejar el trabajo?
he is serious about his threat → sus amenazas van en serio
he's serious about leaving home → está decidido a irse de casa
is she serious about him? → ¿va ella en serio con él?
they haven't made a serious attempt to solve the problem → no han intentado realmente resolver el problema
the serious business of running the country → la importante tarea de gobernar el país
eating shellfish is a serious business in France → comer marisco no es algo que se tome a la ligera en Francia
to give serious consideration to sth → considerar algo seriamente
to take a serious interest in sth → interesarse seriamente por algo
don't look so serious! → ¡no te pongas tan serio!
on a more serious note → pasando a un tema más serio
all serious offers considered → cualquier oferta (que sea) seria se tendrá en cuenta
to give serious thought to sth → considerar algo seriamente
see also deadly B
2. (= grave) [problem, consequences, situation] → grave, serio; [danger, illness, injury, mistake] → grave
the patient's condition is serious → el paciente está grave
to have serious doubts about sth → tener serias dudas sobre algo
to get serious [shortage, epidemic, drought] → convertirse en un serio or grave problema
things are getting serious → la situación se está poniendo seria
she is in serious trouble → está en serios apuros
the patient's condition is serious → el paciente está grave
to have serious doubts about sth → tener serias dudas sobre algo
to get serious [shortage, epidemic, drought] → convertirse en un serio or grave problema
things are getting serious → la situación se está poniendo seria
she is in serious trouble → está en serios apuros
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
serious
[ˈsɪəriəs] adj (= not joking) [person, comment] → sérieux/euse
Are you serious? → Vous êtes sérieux?
Is that your serious opinion?
BUT Pensez-vous sérieusement ce que vous dites?.
Are you serious? → Vous êtes sérieux?
Is that your serious opinion?
BUT Pensez-vous sérieusement ce que vous dites?.
(= bad) [problem, situation] → sérieux/euse; [accident, damage, illness] → sérieux/euse often before n
The government faces serious difficulties → Le gouvernement fait face à de sérieuses difficultés.
Doctors said his condition was serious → Les médecins ont dit que son état était sérieux.
The storm caused serious damage → La tempête a causé de sérieux dommages.
The government faces serious difficulties → Le gouvernement fait face à de sérieuses difficultés.
Doctors said his condition was serious → Les médecins ont dit que son état était sérieux.
The storm caused serious damage → La tempête a causé de sérieux dommages.
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
serious
adj
(= earnest) → ernst; (= not frivolous) → ernsthaft; consideration, discussion, conversation, doubts → ernst, ernsthaft; point, matter, business → ernst; newspaper, publication, interest → ernsthaft, seriös; offer, suggestion → ernst gemeint, seriös; attempt → ernsthaft; contender → ernst zu nehmend attr; to be serious about doing something → etw im Ernst tun wollen; I’m serious (about it) → ich meine das ernst, das ist mein Ernst; I’m deadly serious → es ist mir todernst (inf); he is serious about her → er meint es ernst mit ihr; be serious about your studies → du musst dein Studium ernst nehmen; you can’t be serious! → das meinst du doch nicht ernst!, das kann nicht dein Ernst sein!; to give serious thought or consideration to something → sich (dat) → etw ernsthaft or ernstlich überlegen, sich über etw (acc) → ernsthafte Gedanken machen; the serious student of jazz will … → wer sich ernsthaft mit Jazz beschäftigt, wird …; to earn serious money (inf) → das große Geld verdienen
(= critical) accident, flooding, deficiencies, loss → schwer; mistake, injury → schwer, schlimm; problem → ernst, ernst zu nehmend attr; illness → schwer, ernst; situation → ernst, schlimm; patient’s condition → ernst, bedenklich; threat, shortage, lack → ernst, ernstlich; deterioration → bedenklich; it’s serious → das ist schlimm; it’s getting serious → es wird ernst; inflation is getting serious → die Inflation nimmt ernste Ausmaße an
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
serious
[ˈsɪərɪəs] adja. (earnest) → serio/a
to give serious thought to sth → considerare seriamente qc
he's a serious student of jazz → s'interessa seriamente di jazz
she's getting serious about him → si sta innamorando sul serio di lui
are you serious (about it)? → parli sul serio?
you can't be serious! → stai scherzando!
to give serious thought to sth → considerare seriamente qc
he's a serious student of jazz → s'interessa seriamente di jazz
she's getting serious about him → si sta innamorando sul serio di lui
are you serious (about it)? → parli sul serio?
you can't be serious! → stai scherzando!
b. (causing concern) → serio/a, grave
the patient's condition is serious → il paziente versa in gravi condizioni
the patient's condition is serious → il paziente versa in gravi condizioni
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
serious
(ˈsiəriəs) adjective1. grave or solemn. a quiet, serious boy; You're looking very serious.
2. (often with about) in earnest; sincere. Is he serious about wanting to be a doctor?
3. intended to make people think. He reads very serious books.
4. causing worry; dangerous. a serious head injury; The situation is becoming serious.
ˈseriousness nounˈseriously adverb
in a serious way; to a serious extent. Is he seriously thinking of being an actor?; She is seriously ill.
take (someone or something) seriously1. to regard (a person or his statement etc) as in earnest. You mustn't take his jokes/promises seriously.
2. to regard (a matter) as a subject for concern or serious thought. He refuses to take anything seriously.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
serious
→ جِدِّيّ vážný alvorlig ernst σοβαρός serio vakava sérieux ozbiljan serio 深刻な 심각한 serieus alvorlig poważny sério серьезный allvarlig ร้ายแรง ciddi nghiêm trọng 严重的Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
serious
a. serio-a; complicado-a;
adv. seriamente.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
Collins Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
serious
adj (illness, condition) grave, serio; (person) serioEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.