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   se·ri·ous

   /ˈsirēəs/

   adjective

   • 1. (of a subject, state, or activity) demanding careful consideration or application: "marriage is a serious matter" Similar importantsignificantconsequentialof consequencemomentousof momentkeygraveweightyfar-reachingmajorurgentpressingcrucialcriticalvitallife-and-deathhigh-priorityno jokeno laughing mattercarefuldetailedin-depthdeepprofoundmeaningfulOpposite trivialunimportantsuperficial
   • ▪ (of a person) solemn or thoughtful in character or manner: "her face grew serious" Similar solemnearnestgravesobersomberunsmilingpoker-facedsterngrimdourhumorlessstony-facedthoughtfulpreoccupieddeep in thoughtpensivemeditativeruminativecontemplativeintrospectivestaidsedatestudiousbookishOpposite lightheartedcheerfuljovial
   • ▪ (of thought or discussion) careful or profound: "we give serious consideration to safety recommendations"
   • ▪ (of music, literature, or other art forms) requiring deep reflection and inviting a considered response: "he bridges the gap between serious and popular music" Similar intellectualhighbrowheavyweightdeepprofoundliterarylearnedscholarlyculturedclassicalinformal:heavyOpposite lightlowbrowpopulist
   • 2. acting or speaking sincerely and in earnest, rather than in a joking or halfhearted manner: "actors who are serious about their work" Similar in earnestearnestsincerewholeheartedgenuinemeaning what one sayscommittedfirmresoluteresolveddeterminedOpposite uncommittedhalfheartedflippant
   • 3. significant or worrying because of possible danger or risk; not slight or negligible: "she escaped serious injury" Similar severegravebadcriticalacutealarmingworryinggrievousdreadfulterribledireextremedangerousperilousprecariousarchaic, humorous:parlousOpposite minornegligible
   • 4. substantial in terms of size, number, or quality: informal "he suddenly had serious money to spend"

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Old French serieux or late Latin seriosus, from Latin serius ‘earnest, serious’.

   Scrabble Points: 7

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