Advertisement
🇩🇪German Source WordCode: DE

ernst

Pronunciation / Transliteration: /ɛʁnst/

🇬🇧 Direct English Meaning:
Serious/ˈsɪə.ri.əs/
adjectiveCEFR B1 (Intermediate)Top #850 frequency
Full Thesaurus
🇩🇪 Example Sentence in German:

"Das ist eine ernsthafte Angelegenheit."

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As adjective
  1. 1

    Solemn or thoughtful in character, manner, or mood; not smiling or joking.

    "He had a serious expression on his face when he delivered the news."
  2. 2

    Demanding careful consideration or application; of significant importance or consequence.

    "We are facing a serious problem that requires immediate attention."
Advertisement

Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum

Synonyms (3)
Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the Late Latin word 'serius', meaning grave or earnest, which entered Middle French as 'sérieux' in the 16th century. It subsequently passed into English usage, retaining its core semantic associations with solemnity, importance, and deep intent.

Quick Vocabulary Retention Check

Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Serious"?

Advertisement
Thesaurus & Synonyms Graph

Explore Nuanced Synonyms for "Serious"

Discover exact matches, context-specific alternatives, and antonyms with intensity ratings in the VocabDictionary Thesaurus.

View "Serious" Synonym Map
Advertisement