serious */*/*/

serious */*/*/
UK [ˈsɪərɪəs] / US [ˈsɪrɪəs] adjective
1) bad or dangerous enough to make you worried

The sale of the company will have serious implications for people's jobs.

a serious problem/mistake:

It's not a serious problem – we should be able to fix it without too much trouble.

a serious illness/accident/injury:

a serious head injury

a serious crime/offence/threat:

An accident like this poses a serious threat to the environment.

2) important and deserving attention

This is an extremely serious matter.

He has no serious competition for the post.

3) meaning what you say or do, and not making a joke

I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were being serious.

The police have made no serious attempt to address these issues.

serious about:

I'm not convinced they're serious about the deal.

serious about (doing) something:

Do you think Mike's serious about going to live in New Zealand?

deadly/dead (= completely) serious:

"Are you serious about leaving your job?" "Dead serious."

4) careful and detailed
serious consideration/thought/discussion:

We'll have to give the situation some serious thought.

5)
a) someone who is serious thinks carefully about things and does not laugh much

Peter seems serious but he actually has a good sense of humour.

b) appearing worried or upset

Is Mary all right? She looked a bit serious.

6) [usually before noun] dealing with important, complicated, or difficult ideas or subjects

serious books/music

7) if you are in a serious romantic relationship with someone, you intend to stay together for a long time

Is it getting serious with you and June, then?

a serious boyfriend/girlfriend/relationship:

He's never had a serious relationship with anyone.

8) involved in an activity in a way that shows you like it a lot and think it is important

My father is a serious runner.

9) informal extreme, or large in amount

We did some serious hiking last weekend.

It's time you made some serious money.

•

Derived word:
seriousness
UK / US noun uncountable

English dictionary. 2014.

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