ENGLISH
REFERENCE

seriously

adv. manner
B1 Intermediate Oxford US //ˈsɪɹiəsɫi// UK //sˈiəɹɪəsli// se·ri·ous·ly General-service Informal

adv. in a way that is not joking or lighthearted. You use it to show that you are being honest or that something is very important.

adv. in a solemn or earnest manner; to a significant or severe degree. Often used as a sentence-modifying disjunct to emphasize the sincerity of a statement.


SIMPLE

You need to take your studies seriously.

CONTEXTUAL

The doctor spoke seriously about the risks of the surgery to ensure the patient understood the situation.

COMPLEX

While the initial reports were dismissed as rumors, the government began to take the threat seriously once the economic data confirmed a downturn.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English seriously, sereously, ceryously, seryowslech (“earnestly”), equivalent to serious + -ly.

Usage

Can function as a manner adverb modifying a verb or as a sentence adverb to indicate the speaker's attitude.

Pitfall

I am seriously about thisI am serious about thisLearners often use the adverb 'seriously' where the adjective 'serious' is required after the verb 'to be'.

Idioms1 entry

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