Serious

//ˈsɪə̯.ɹi.əs// adj, adv, slang

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Without humor or expression of happiness; grave in manner or disposition.

    "deadly serious"

  2. 2
    Important; weighty; not insignificant.

    "This is a serious problem. We'll need our best experts."

  3. 3
    Really intending what is said (or planned, etc); in earnest; not jocular or deceiving.

    "After all these years, we're finally getting serious attention."

  4. 4
    Committed.
Adjective
  1. 1
    causing fear or anxiety by threatening great harm wordnet
  2. 2
    requiring effort or concentration; complex and not easy to answer or solve wordnet
  3. 3
    of great consequence wordnet
  4. 4
    appealing to the mind wordnet
  5. 5
    concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities wordnet
Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    completely lacking in playfulness wordnet
Adverb
  1. 1
    seriously, in a serious manner (most often heard in take or mean serious) colloquial, dialectal, not-comparable

    "The only time I walk out on singin' is when there's muckin' about and youse don't take it serious."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English seryows, from Old French serieux, from Medieval Latin sēriōsus, an extension of Latin sērius (“grave, earnest, serious”), from Proto-Indo-European *swer- (“heavy”). Cognate with German schwer (“heavy, difficult, severe”), Old English swǣr (“heavy, grave, grievous”). More at swear, sweer.

Etymology 2

From Middle English seryows, from Old French serieux, from Medieval Latin sēriōsus, an extension of Latin sērius (“grave, earnest, serious”), from Proto-Indo-European *swer- (“heavy”). Cognate with German schwer (“heavy, difficult, severe”), Old English swǣr (“heavy, grave, grievous”). More at swear, sweer.

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