English dictionary

serious Meaning & Definition

Q: What are the comparative and superlative forms of serious?

The comparative form is more serious and the superlative form is most serious.

/ˈsɪə.ɹi.əs/

What Does Serious Mean?

As an adjective, serious means Without humor or expression of happiness; grave in manner or disposition. It is also used to mean Important; weighty; not insignificant. As an adverb, it means seriously, in a serious manner. As an adverb, it means In a serious manner; seriously.

Quick Facts About Serious

Part of speech	adjective, adverb
Pronunciation	/ˈsɪə.ɹi.əs/
Syllables	3
Synonyms	solemn, earnest and grievous
Antonyms	frivolous, playful and trifling
Comparative / superlative	more serious, most serious

Serious Definition (Adjective)

Without humor or expression of happiness; grave in manner or disposition.
deadly serious
Important; weighty; not insignificant.
This is a serious problem. We'll need our best experts.
Really intending what is said (or planned, etc); in earnest; not jocular or deceiving.
After all these years, we're finally getting serious attention.
Committed.

Serious as an Adverb

seriously, in a serious manner

Adjective

(of a relationship) Committed.

Adverb

In a serious manner; seriously.

Synonyms of Serious

solemn earnest grievous critical good sensible important severe sedate hard difficult thoughtful dangerous intellectual sobering real unplayfulof importoverserious grave sincere sober

Serious synonyms and antonyms →

Antonyms of Serious

frivolous playful trifling unimportant jesting

Serious in a Sentence

deadly serious

It was a surprise to see the captain, who had always seemed so serious, laugh so heartily.

This is a serious problem. We'll need our best experts.

After all these years, we're finally getting serious attention.

He says he wants to buy the team, but is he serious?

I was being deadly serious when I made that suggestion.

Word Forms & Grammar

serious (comparative more serious, superlative most serious)

serious (not comparable)

Words That Rhyme With Serious

delirious imperious mysterious deleterious cereusnereisnereustereusweary us

Origin of Serious

From Middle English seryows, from Old French serieux, from Medieval Latin sēriōsus, an extension of Latin sērius (“grave, earnest, serious”), possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *swer- (“heavy”). (If this root is correct, cognate with German schwer (“heavy, difficult, severe”), Old English swǣr (“heavy, grave, grievous”). More at swear, sweer. (However, see sērius for an alternative derivation of the Latin.)

Pronouncing Serious

Serious is pronounced /ˈsɪə.ɹi.əs/ and has 3 syllables, with the main stress on the first syllable (sɪə).

Common Questions About Serious

Is serious an adjective or an adverb?

Serious is mainly used as an adjective, but it can also be used as an adverb.

What is another word for serious?

Words with a similar meaning to serious include solemn, earnest and grievous. See the full list of serious synonyms and antonyms.

What is the opposite of serious?

The opposite of serious can be expressed with words like frivolous, playful, trifling and unimportant.

What are the comparative and superlative forms of serious?

The comparative form is more serious and the superlative form is most serious.