seriousness
Americannoun
-
earnest or sincere character or attitude.
The proposal was talked about, but I can't say with how much seriousness it was discussed.
-
solemn or somber character or attitude.
Is that why your face is so grim—you're fighting to maintain seriousness and not laugh at the speaker’s name?
-
the quality of showing or requiring deep thought or concentration.
The two chefs approach their gourmet cuisine with the pensive seriousness others might bring to a difficult math problem.
-
the quality of being important or weighty, or of giving cause for concern.
We need educational tools that convey the seriousness of copyright infringement, as well as its consequences and penalties.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of seriousness
Explanation
Seriousness is a quality of being calmly intent, or serious. Your seriousness will serve you well when you're studying for an important test. You might talk about the seriousness of an argument between two friends, or the seriousness of your math teacher when she expects the class to pay attention. Sometimes seriousness implies a bit of worry, like when you ask about the seriousness of your grandmother's health problems. The noun seriousness comes from an adjective, serious, with a Latin root, serius, which means "weighty, important, or grave."
Vocabulary lists containing seriousness
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Describing the punishment Southampton received as "ridiculous", Solak tried to downplay the seriousness of the club's cheating.
From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026
“We take any threat to public health with the utmost seriousness, and we continue to work diligently alongside public health officials and food safety experts to ensure the integrity of our products.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2026
“I am well aware of the seriousness of the allegations made against my son,” Vazquez wrote in his court declaration.
From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026
It’s an official architecture that often mistakes size for seriousness.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026
He oscillated hourly between anguish and exhilaration, multiplying fantastically the grandeur of his victories and exaggerating tragically the seriousness of his defeats.
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
