Words / B1

SEERR-ee-uh-s/ˈsɪəriəs/

Serious means important and not a joke, or quite bad. A serious problem; a serious injury. Funny is one opposite for jokes; minor or slight for how bad something is. Severe is stronger, especially for weather and pain. Seriously is the adverb: seriously ill; take someone seriously.

Meaning

Important and not a joke, or very bad.

Examples

• “This is a serious problem.”
• “Is she serious about leaving?”
• “He was lucky — it could have been serious.”

Good to know

a serious + noun. take someone seriously. Stronger (pain/weather): severe.

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