Translate serious | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish Definition of serious
adjective
1(of a person) solemn or thoughtful in character or manner:her face grew serious (of a subject, state, or activity) demanding careful consideration or application:marriage is a serious matter (of thought or discussion) careful or profound:we give serious consideration to safety recommendations (of music, literature, or other art forms) requiring deep reflection and inviting a considered response:he bridges the gap between serious and popular music
2acting or speaking sincerely and in earnest, rather than in a joking or halfhearted manner:suddenly he wasn’t teasing any more—he was deadly serious actors who are serious about their work
3significant or worrying because of possible danger or risk; not slight or negligible:she escaped serious injury Haydn was Mozart’s only serious rival
4 [attributive] informal substantial in terms of size, number, or quality:he suddenly had serious money to spend a serious chocolate cheesecake
