/ ˈsɪəriəs; NAmE ˈsɪr-/ adjective
BAD
1.
bad or dangerous :
a serious illness / problem / offence
to cause serious injury / damage
They pose a serious threat to security.
The consequences could be serious.
NEEDING THOUGHT
2.
needing to be thought about carefully; not only for pleasure :
a serious article
a serious newspaper
It's time to give serious consideration to this matter.
IMPORTANT
3.
that must be treated as important :
We need to get down to the serious business of working out costs.
The team is a serious contender for the title this year.
NOT SILLY
4.
thinking about things in a careful and sensible way; not silly :
Be serious for a moment; this is important.
I'm afraid I'm not a very serious person.
NOT JOKING
5.
serious (about sb/sth) | serious (about doing sth) sincere about sth; not joking or meant as a joke :
Believe me, I'm deadly (= extremely) serious .
Don't laugh, it's a serious suggestion.
Is she serious about wanting to sell the house?
He's really serious about Penny and wants to get engaged.
( informal )
You can't be serious! (= you must be joking)
You think I did it? Be serious! (= what you suggest is ridiculous)
LARGE AMOUNT
6.
( informal ) used to emphasize that there is a large amount of sth :
You can earn serious money doing that.
I'm ready to do some serious eating (= I am very hungry) .
••
SYNONYMS
serious
grave ♦ earnest ♦ solemn
These words all describe sb who thinks and behaves carefully and sensibly, but often without much joy or laughter.
serious
thinking about things in a careful and sensible way; not laughing about sth:
He's not really a very serious person.
•
Be serious for a moment; this is important.
grave
( rather formal ) (of a person) serious in manner, as if sth sad, important, or worrying has just happened:
He looked very grave as he entered the room.
earnest
serious and sincere:
The earnest young doctor answered all our questions.
solemn
looking or sounding very serious, without smiling; done or said in a very serious and sincere way:
Her expression grew solemn.
•
I made a solemn promise that I would return.
PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS :
a(n) serious / grave / earnest / solemn expression / face
a(n) serious / earnest conversation / talk
a serious / solemn mood / atmosphere
to be / become serious / grave / earnest / solemn
to look / sound serious / grave / earnest / solemn
very / extremely serious / grave / earnest / solemn
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French serieux or late Latin seriosus , from Latin serius earnest, serious.