serious

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   of great consequence

   marriage is a serious matter

2. 2
   adj

   concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities

   a serious student of history

3. 3
   adj

   Without humor or expression of happiness; grave in manner or disposition.

   deadly serious

4. 4
   adj

   Important; weighty; not insignificant.

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

5. 5
   adj

   Really intending what is said (or planned, etc); in earnest; not jocular or deceiving.

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

6. 6
   adv

   seriously, in a serious manner (most often heard in take or mean serious)

   The only time I walk out on singin' is when there's muckin' about and youse don't take it serious.

7. 7
   adj

   causing fear or anxiety by threatening great harm

8. 8
   adj

   requiring effort or concentration

Etymology

From Middle English seryows, from Old French serieux, from Medieval Latin sēriōsus, an extension of Latin sērius (“grave, earnest, serious”), from Proto-Indo-European *swer- (“heavy”). Cognate with German schwer (“heavy, difficult, severe”), Old English swǣr (“heavy, grave, grievous”). More at swear, sweer.