1
: thoughtful or subdued in appearance or manner : sober
a quiet, serious girl
2
a
: requiring much thought or work
serious study
b
: of or relating to a matter of importance
a serious play
3
4
a
: not easily answered or solved
serious objections
b
: having important or dangerous possible consequences
a serious injury
5
: excessive or impressive in quality, quantity, extent, or degree
serious stereo equipment
making serious money
serious drinking
seriousness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of serious in a Sentence
“You sound terrible.” “It's just a bad cold. Nothing serious.”
For my brother, not going to college was a serious mistake.
Crime is a serious problem in this neighborhood.
The team is a serious contender for the championship.
If you want to quit smoking, you have to make a serious effort.
They had a serious conversation about their relationship.
a serious novel about modern life
The story raises serious questions about our system of justice.
Dog shows are a serious business.
She is a serious cyclist who rides 200 miles each week.
Recent Examples on the Web
In rare cases, salmonella or its toxins can enter the bloodstream, causing serious illnesses, death or long-term conditions like arthritis, Kowalcyk said.
—
Elizabeth Chuck, NBC News, 18 Apr. 2024
Born before 37 weeks and often weighing less than five pounds, these infants are at greater risk for a suite of serious health problems, including life-threatening infections, chronic lung disease, blindness, and death.
—Sionika Thayagabalu and Dominick Lemas, STAT, 18 Apr. 2024
Still, workers carry serious reservations about the use of AI in the hiring process, and companies that implement it may be waving goodbye to the best talent.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 18 Apr. 2024
This limited series offers a fresh take on identity and connection in the digital age, blending humor with serious contemporary topics.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 18 Apr. 2024
Don Henley and Sharon Summerall married in 1995 and have three children
The Eagles drummer and lead vocalist Don Henley decided to settle down with his wife, Sharon Summerall, after a few serious relationships.
—Kara Nesvig, Peoplemag, 18 Apr. 2024
His family has filed a lawsuit alleging prison staff were deliberately indifferent to Hoffmann's serious mental health needs.
—Journal Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2024
Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen was also slow to treat the blazes as serious emergencies, according to the probe.
—Anumita Kaur, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024
Neither Tracy, a stay-at-home mom, nor Ruben, a deputy sheriff, had training or experience with serious medical conditions.
—Jan Goldsmith, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2024
Elizabeth Chuck, NBC News, 18 Apr. 2024
Born before 37 weeks and often weighing less than five pounds, these infants are at greater risk for a suite of serious health problems, including life-threatening infections, chronic lung disease, blindness, and death.
—Sionika Thayagabalu and Dominick Lemas, STAT, 18 Apr. 2024
Still, workers carry serious reservations about the use of AI in the hiring process, and companies that implement it may be waving goodbye to the best talent.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 18 Apr. 2024
This limited series offers a fresh take on identity and connection in the digital age, blending humor with serious contemporary topics.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 18 Apr. 2024
Don Henley and Sharon Summerall married in 1995 and have three children
The Eagles drummer and lead vocalist Don Henley decided to settle down with his wife, Sharon Summerall, after a few serious relationships.
—Kara Nesvig, Peoplemag, 18 Apr. 2024
His family has filed a lawsuit alleging prison staff were deliberately indifferent to Hoffmann's serious mental health needs.
—Journal Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2024
Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen was also slow to treat the blazes as serious emergencies, according to the probe.
—Anumita Kaur, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024
Neither Tracy, a stay-at-home mom, nor Ruben, a deputy sheriff, had training or experience with serious medical conditions.
—Jan Goldsmith, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'serious.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near serious
Cite this Entry
“Serious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/serious. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
serious
adjective
se·ri·ous
ˈsir-ē-əs 
1
: thoughtful or quiet in appearance or manner
2
a
: requiring much thought or work
serious study
b
: of or relating to a matter of importance
a serious novel
3
: not joking or funny
4
: having important or dangerous possible consequences
a serious injury
seriously
adverb
seriousness
noun
Medical Definition
serious
adjective
se·ri·ous
ˈsir-ē-əs
: having important or dangerous possible consequences
a serious injury
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