Weather / B1

si-VEER/sɪˈvɪə/

Severe means very serious or extreme: severe delays; a severe winter. Harsh is a close twin (already in the dictionary); severity is the noun (already in the dictionary). Bad is everyday and weaker. Rail: severe delays cancelled the last train north.

Meaning

Very serious or extreme.

Examples

• “Severe delays on the East Coast Main Line cancelled the last train north.”
• “A severe warning from Ofsted is not the same as a routine monitoring visit.”

Good to know

severe + delays / weather / pain / warning. Noun: severity. Close: harsh. Everyday: very bad. Travel / NHS / inspections. Not “sever” (to cut).

Near in meaning

harsh

Topics

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