Definition Definition

serious - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'serious' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Serious [ a.]
- Grave in manner or disposition; earnest; thoughtful; solemn; not light, gay, or volatile.
- Really intending what is said; being in earnest; not jesting or deceiving.
- Important; weighty; not trifling; grave.
- Hence, giving rise to apprehension; attended with danger; as, a serious injury.

Meaning of 'serious' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . serious [ a]
Meaning (1):
- concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
Example in sentence:
  • a serious attempt to learn to ski;
  • a serious student of history;
  • a serious young man;
  • are you serious or joking?;
  • Don't be so serious!;
  • gave me a serious look
2 . serious [ s]
Meaning (2):
- causing fear or anxiety by threatening great harm
Example in sentence:
  • a dangerous operation;
  • a grave illness;
  • a grave situation;
  • a life-threatening disease;
  • a serious turn of events;
  • a serious wound;
  • a severe case of pneumonia;
  • grievous bodily harm
Meaning (3):
- appealing to the mind
Example in sentence:
  • a serious book;
  • good music
Meaning (4):
- of great consequence
Example in sentence:
  • marriage is a serious matter
Meaning (5):
- requiring effort or concentration; complex and not easy to answer or solve
Example in sentence:
  • raised serious objections to the proposal;
  • the plan has a serious flaw