How to Use serious in a Sentence

serious

adjective
  • The team is a serious contender for the championship.
  • If you want to quit smoking, you have to make a serious effort.
  • Dog shows are a serious business.
  • For my brother, not going to college was a serious mistake.
  • Crime is a serious problem in this neighborhood.
  • The story raises serious questions about our system of justice.
  • They had a serious conversation about their relationship.
  • She is a serious cyclist who rides 200 miles each week.
  • But is that serious or is that a joke?
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025
  • But just how serious is a bank levy?
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
  • His next project was more serious.
    — Sam Kriss, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
  • But there are some serious caveats.
    — Kelsey Norman, The Conversation, 18 June 2026
  • And here’s where things get serious.
    — Baltimore Sun, Twin Cities, 23 Apr. 2026
  • The song was meant to be funny, but in a serious way.
    — Brett Milano, Boston Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Owens is a beloved wrestler and neck injuries can be very serious.
    — John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Snow and ice can cause serious problems on your roof.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 Jan. 2026
  • The home is in serious need of an overhaul.
    — Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026
  • That is, nothing too serious or about what’s been on my mind.
    — Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 1 June 2023
  • But did the faintness of the line mean my case wasn’t serious?
    — Adam Cohen, Oklahoman, 3 Feb. 2026
  • But she has been struck by two serious seizures since Mya’s been gone.
    — Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 8 Apr. 2023
  • There is a serious threat to the lives of-- of farmers.
    — Anderson Cooper, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Sammy gave me one of my first serious lessons in life, which was about death.
    — Questlove, The Atlantic, 7 Nov. 2025
  • The sink is also deep enough for serious use.
    — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
  • At first, none of his injuries seemed too serious.
    — Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
  • And there’s serious science to back it up.
    — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 25 Sep. 2025
  • That’s a very serious thing in every state.
    — Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 14 May 2026
  • Now you’re known for this very serious, poignant story.
    — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2025
  • The call is ranked based on its serious nature, from alpha up to echo.
    — Morgan Rynor, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
  • That slip can result in a chainsaw gash, which is serious any time of year.
    — Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 18 Jan. 2023
  • There’s some serious art in that restaurant.
    — Eric Ryan, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'serious.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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