Serious Definition

sîrē-əs

adjective

seriouser, seriousest

Of, showing, having, or caused by earnestness or deep thought; earnest, grave, sober, or solemn.

A serious person.

Webster's New World

Intended for sophisticated people.

Serious music.

American Heritage

Meant in earnestness; not said or done in play.

Webster's New World

Requiring careful consideration or thought; involving difficulty, effort, or considered action.

A serious problem.

Webster's New World

Meaning what one says or does; not joking or trifling; sincere.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Other Word Forms of Serious

Base Form:

serious

Comparative:

seriouser

Superlative:

seriousest

From Middle English seryows, from Old French serieux, from Medieval Latin sÄ“riōsus, an extension of Latin sÄ“rius (“grave, earnest, serious"), from Proto-Indo-European *swÄ“r- (“heavy"). Cognate with German schwer (“heavy, difficult, severe"), Old English swÇ£r (“heavy, grave, grievous"). More at swear, sweer.

From Wiktionary
Middle English from Old French serieux from Late Latin sēriōsus from Latin sērius

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition