seriously

A2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈsɪɹ.i.əs li/ UK /ˈsɪə.ɹi.əs.li/ See IPA manual

Freq #795

Meanings

1

adv
In a serious way; treating something as important and not as a joke.

He was hoping that we would take him seriously.
2

adv
To a great or severe degree; very much.

That was a seriously unpleasant thing to say.
3

adv
Used to show that you really mean what you are about to say.

Now, seriously, why did you forget to feed the cat today?

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adv · in a serious way; treating... earnestly

2 adv · to a great or severe... severely

3 adv · used to show that you... no kiddingreal talk

Word family

Derived forms sinseriouslysrsly

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

seriously ill
suffering from a severe illness

Adverb + adjective

Proverbs (1)

See all

Don't take life too seriously; you'll never get out of it alive

Etymology

From Middle English seriously, sereously, ceryously, seryowslech (“earnestly”), equivalent to serious + -ly.

seriously Middle English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# seriously

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** adv
**IPA (US):** /ˈsɪɹ.i.əs li/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈsɪə.ɹi.əs.li/
**Frequency rank:** 795

## Meanings
1. In a serious way; treating something as important and not as a joke.
2. To a great or severe degree; very much.
3. Used to show that you really mean what you are about to say.

## Examples
- He was hoping that we would take him seriously.
- That was a seriously unpleasant thing to say.
- Now, seriously, why did you forget to feed the cat today?

## Derived Forms
- sinseriously
- srsly

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: seriously

## Etymology
From Middle English seriously, sereously, ceryously, seryowslech (“earnestly”), equivalent to serious + -ly.

## AI Etymology
Seriously is from Middle English seriously, sereously, ceryously, seryowslech (“earnestly”), equivalent to serious + -ly. Important forms in the word's history include Middle English seriously. In current use it includes senses such as In a serious way; treating something as important and not as a joke and To a great or severe degree; very much.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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