seriously

seriously — adverb

1. to a large or worrying degree, especially when talking about harm, damage, or ne

1.adverbB1
Definition

to a large or worrying degree, especially when talking about harm, damage, or negative situations — for example, being seriously ill, injured, or affected by something bad.

Example

Hoa was seriously injured in the car accident last month.

seriously + passive participle (injured) expressing degree of harm

The storm seriously damaged the roofs of several houses in the village.

seriously + active verb (damaged) for degree of negative impact

Common collocations
  • seriously injured
  • seriously damaged
  • seriously ill
  • seriously affected
  • seriously polluted
  • seriously hurt
Synonyms
  • severely

    interchangeable; suggests greater harshness of impact

  • badly

    more common in spoken English; less formal

  • gravely

    more formal; used for very serious situations like illness or mistakes

Antonyms
  • slightly

    opposite in degree — a small extent rather than a large one

  • mildly

    suggests a weak or gentle degree of impact

Grammar Patterns

seriously + adjective (e.g. seriously injured)

seriously + verb (e.g. seriously damaged)

Usage Note

Commonly pairs with past participles of verbs that describe negative outcomes: injured, damaged, affected, polluted, ill. Not used with positive adjectives (do not say 'seriously beautiful').

Common Mistakes

The cake was seriously delicious.' (meaning 'very delicious')
The cake was extremely delicious.
In standard English, 'seriously' as a degree adverb is reserved for negative outcomes; using it for positive qualities belongs to informal/slang use (see sense 4).

2. in a way that shows honest, sincere intention rather than humour or play — also

2.adverbB1
Definition

in a way that shows honest, sincere intention rather than humour or play — also used at the start of a statement to show that the speaker is moving from joking to a more earnest topic.

Example

Imran spoke seriously about the need to protect the environment.

seriously as adverb of manner — how someone speaks

We were laughing a moment ago, but seriously, the deadline is only two days away.

discourse marker: 'Seriously, + statement' shifting tone

Common collocations
  • speak seriously
  • talk seriously
  • take someone seriously
  • look seriously at
  • ask seriously
Synonyms
  • earnestly

    more formal; suggests deep conviction

  • sincerely

    focuses on honesty rather than gravity

  • honestly

    overlaps but also functions as a discourse marker

Antonyms
  • jokingly

    opposite manner — not meant to be taken seriously

  • playfully

    in a light-hearted, unserious way

Grammar Patterns

seriously + verb (e.g. seriously talk)

Seriously, + clause (discourse marker)

Usage Note

As a sentence adverb (discourse marker), 'Seriously' often begins a sentence and is followed by a comma: 'Seriously, we need to talk.' It signals that the speaker is dropping a light or joking tone and becoming earnest.

3. used in the fixed expression 'take (someone / something) seriously', meaning to

3.adverbB1
Definition

used in the fixed expression 'take (someone / something) seriously', meaning to treat a person, idea, problem, or situation as important, genuine, or dangerous enough to deserve your full attention or respect.

Example

Tamar did not take the warning from the weather service seriously.

negative form: 'not take X seriously' — dismissing something important

The school board finally took the bullying problem seriously after parents complained.

take + (problem) + seriously — treating an issue as important

Common collocations
  • take someone seriously
  • take a problem seriously
  • take a warning seriously
  • take an idea seriously
  • take a suggestion seriously
  • take a threat seriously
Synonyms
Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

take + noun phrase + seriously

Usage Note

This sense only appears in the phrase 'take [object] seriously'. The object can be a person (take him seriously), an idea (take the suggestion seriously), or a situation (take the threat seriously). Rarely used in the progressive aspect ('is taking seriously').

Common Mistakes

I take serious my studies.
I take my studies seriously.
'Seriously' is an adverb modifying 'take'; 'serious' is an adjective and would modify the noun.

4. used in informal speech and writing to mean 'very' or 'extremely', adding strong

4.adverbB2
Definition

used in informal speech and writing to mean 'very' or 'extremely', adding strong emphasis — for example, saying a meal was 'seriously good' or a film was 'seriously funny'.

Example

That new Thai restaurant is seriously good — we should go again.

informal intensifier: 'seriously good' = 'very good'

Defne ran seriously fast in the school race and came in first place.

seriously + adverb (fast) for emphasis

Common collocations
  • seriously good
  • seriously funny
  • seriously fast
  • seriously boring
  • seriously cool
  • seriously bad
Synonyms
  • extremely

    more formal; works in both formal and informal contexts

  • really

    equally informal; more common in everyday speech

  • super

    informal; common among younger speakers

Grammar Patterns

seriously + adjective (e.g. seriously good)

seriously + adverb (e.g. seriously fast)

Usage Note

Restricted to informal contexts — conversation, social media, casual writing. Not appropriate in academic essays, business reports, or formal letters. Sense 4 usage with positive adjectives ('seriously good', 'seriously funny') is the best test to distinguish it from sense 1, which is restricted to negative outcomes.

Common Mistakes

The patient is seriously well.' (formal medical context)
The patient is doing well.
Using 'seriously' as a general intensifier in formal contexts sounds odd; reserve it for informal situations.
Idioms

take somebody/something seriously

idiom

To consider someone or something as important and worth your attention or respect.

Mia takes her job as a nurse very seriously.

Do you think the manager will take our complaint seriously?

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four words describe a large or worrying degree of something negative, but they differ in scope and formality. 'Seriously' is the most versatile — it works with injury (seriously injured), damage (seriously damaged), and illness (seriously ill). 'Severely' overlaps almost completely but suggests a harsher, more punishing degree: a building is severely damaged, not seriously damaged, when it is close to collapse. 'Badly' is the most common in everyday speech ('badly hurt', 'badly stained') but sounds less formal; it also has a wider range that includes non-serious things ('badly cooked'). 'Gravely' is the most formal and carries a sense of life-threatening weight: 'gravely ill' or 'gravely mistaken'. In writing, choose 'seriously' for general severity, 'badly' for informal contexts, 'severely' for intensity close to a limit, and 'gravely' only when the situation is truly dire.

severely ↗badly ↗gravely ↗seriously ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • seriously ill patients
  • seriously injured victims
  • seriously damaged buildings
  • seriously affected areas

Adverbs

  • very seriously
  • quite seriously
  • deadly seriously

Phrases

  • take (someone/something) seriously
  • seriously speaking

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Formed in the 15th century from 'serious' (from Middle French 'sérieux', directly from Latin 'serius' meaning 'weighty, important, grave') plus the adverb-forming suffix '-ly'. The informal intensifier use (sense 4) emerged in the late 20th century, first in American slang and then spreading through popular culture.