serious

[ˈsɪrɪəs]

serious Definition

  • 1important and needing a lot of thought or attention
  • 2not joking or intended to be funny
  • 3severe or dangerous
  • 4showing that you are thinking about something carefully and that it is important to you

Using serious: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "serious" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    The situation is serious and requires immediate action.

  • Example

    He gave me a serious look and told me to listen carefully.

  • Example

    The patient's condition is serious and requires surgery.

  • Example

    She is a serious student who always does her homework.

serious Synonyms and Antonyms

Antonyms for serious

Idioms Using serious

  • to start taking something seriously

    Example

    If we want to win this game, we need to get serious and focus on our strategy.

  • completely serious and not joking at all

    Example

    I'm deadly serious when I say that this is the best pizza in town.

  • very serious and stern

    Example

    When he found out that his son had been skipping school, he was serious as a judge and grounded him for a month.

Phrases with serious

  • serious business

    something that is very important and requires a lot of effort and attention

    Example

    Starting a new business is serious business.

  • being committed and dedicated to something

    Example

    She is serious about her career and works hard every day.

  • very serious and potentially life-threatening

    Example

    His heart condition is serious as a heart attack and requires immediate medical attention.

Origins of serious

from Latin 'serius', meaning 'weighty, important'

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Summary: serious in Brief

The term 'serious' [ˈsɪrɪəs] refers to something important, requiring thought and attention. It can also mean not joking or being severe or dangerous. The phrase 'serious business' denotes something that requires a lot of effort and attention, while 'serious about something' means being committed and dedicated to something. The idiom 'get serious' means to start taking something seriously.

How do native speakers use this expression?