Meaning & use
serious
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Not joking or playful, and thoughtful in manner.
Grammar: Can come before a noun or after a linking verb: a serious look, he is serious.
Patterns
- be serious about something
- a serious face
Stop laughing; I am being serious.
He is a quiet, serious boy who loves chess.
She gave me a serious look before she spoke.
adjectivecomparable
Bad or important enough to cause worry or need careful attention.
Grammar: Often before nouns such as problem, illness, or injury.
Patterns
- a serious problem
- serious trouble
The accident caused serious injuries.
They face a serious shortage of water.
Skipping meetings is a serious mistake.
adjectivecomparable
Sincere and committed, with a real plan to act.
Grammar: Often used with about: serious about a career.
Patterns
- serious about something
- a serious offer
Are you serious about moving abroad?
He made a serious offer for the house.
adjectivebefore a nouninformal
Very large in amount or degree, used informally for emphasis.
Grammar: Placed before a noun: serious money, serious talent.
Patterns
- serious money
- serious talent
That company makes serious money.
She has serious talent on the piano.
Word forms
| comparative | more serious |
|---|---|
| superlative | most serious |
Common combinations
- serious problem
- Rising rents are a serious problem for students.
- seriously ill
- The patient is seriously ill.
- serious about
- She is serious about learning Spanish.
- serious injury
- The driver escaped without serious injury.
- take something seriously
- You should take safety rules seriously.
Synonyms and how they differ
- solemn
- Solemn is more formal and suggests deep or ceremonial earnestness, while serious is much more common.
- grave
- Grave is stronger and more formal than serious and is used for very dangerous situations.
- severe
- Severe describes something harsh or intense, such as pain or weather, rather than a person's manner.
- earnest
- Earnest stresses sincere effort, while serious covers manner and importance as well.
Opposites
Word family
- seriously adverb
- in a serious way
- seriousness noun
- the quality of being serious
Commonly confused: serious or series?
serious vs series
A series is a set of things in order, like episodes. It looks similar to serious but is a noun.
Practice
Which sentence uses serious to mean 'sincere'?
Choose one answer.
Being serious about quitting means you really intend to do it. The other sentences use serious to mean severe or large.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “serious”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.