serious
serious
/ˈsɪəriəs/
bad
a serious illness/offence/crime
a serious problem/issue
to cause serious injury/damage/harm
They pose a serious threat to security.
The consequences could be serious.
A few years ago, the company was in serious trouble.
Their economies continue to face serious challenges.
She is in serious financial trouble.
She is now in a serious condition in Belfast Hospital.
serious for somebody/something
This situation could be very serious for her.
By this time the riots were getting serious.
The crime is considered serious enough to warrant a jail term.
These are terribly serious allegations.
He admitted to having made a serious error of judgement.
He died after suffering from a serious illness.
The storm caused serious damage to farm buildings.
The country is now facing a serious political crisis.
The children were considered to be at serious risk of harm.
Your chances of having a serious accident at work can be quite high.
Collocations
verbs
adverb
preposition
phrases
nothing serious
serious enough to warrant something
not silly
2 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.
He became serious all of a sudden.
She was looking at him with a serious expression on her face.
Suddenly the conversation turned serious.
not joking
3 sincere about something; not joking or meant as a joke
Believe me, I'm deadly (= extremely) serious.
Don't laugh, it's a serious suggestion.
serious about doing something Is she serious about wanting to sell the house?
He knew it was time to get serious about losing weight.
serious about somebody/something He's really serious about Penny and wants to get engaged.
She doesn’t have a serious boyfriend.
(informal) You can't be serious! (= you must be joking)
You think I did it? Be serious! (= what you suggest is ridiculous)
Are you serious about resigning?
Joe is deadly serious in his beliefs.
Please try to stay serious!
Collocations
verbs
adverb
preposition
needing thought
4 needing to be thought about carefully; not only for pleasure
a serious article
a serious newspaper
an appreciation of serious music
serious drama/fiction
Why do you waste your time reading that? It's hardly a serious newspaper, is it?
This book is the first serious study of the subject.
The speech was interesting, if a little serious for such a young audience.
It's time for a serious debate about the issue.
important
5 that must be treated as important
a serious matter
serious questions/concerns/doubts
serious allegations/charges
It's time to give serious consideration to this matter.
Please give it some serious thought before you make a decision.
The subject has received little serious attention.
We need to get down to the serious business of working out costs.
The team is a serious contender for the title this year.
large amount
6 (informal) used to emphasize that there is a large amount of something
You can earn serious money doing that.
I'm ready to do some serious eating (= I am very hungry).
Word Origin
late Middle English: from Old French serieux or late Latin seriosus, from Latin serius ‘earnest, serious’.