# seriously

/ˈsɪɹiəsɫi/ (US) · /sˈiəɹɪəsli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/seriously
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. not joking

adverb · CEFR B1

in a way that is not joking or playful.

For teachers: in a literal, earnest, or solemn manner; without levity.

- I am seriously considering moving to another country for work.
- The board is seriously evaluating the proposal, as the potential for long-term growth outweighs the immediate financial risks.

Usage: usually follows the verb or sits at the end of the clause.

### 2. very much or badly

adverb · CEFR B1

to a great or dangerous degree.

For teachers: to a severe or critical extent; used to intensify negative states or injuries.

- Several people were seriously injured in the car accident last night.
- The local ecosystem was seriously affected by the chemical spill, requiring years of intensive restoration efforts.

Usage: often modifies adjectives like 'injured', 'ill', or 'damaged'.

### 3. changing to a serious topic

adverb · CEFR B2 · Informal

you use this to stop joking and start talking about something important.

For teachers: used as a sentence adverb to signal a transition from a humorous or lighthearted tone to a sincere one.

- Seriously, we need to decide who is driving to the wedding.
- Seriously though, if we don't address the budget deficit now, we won't have any funding for next year's projects.

Usage: usually placed at the very beginning of a sentence.

Teaching tip: This is a 'discourse marker' that helps manage the flow of a conversation.

### 4. showing disbelief

adverb · CEFR B1 · Informal

you say this when you are surprised or cannot believe what someone said.

For teachers: used as an exclamation or a question to express incredulity, annoyance, or emphasis.

- Seriously? You spent two hundred dollars on a pair of shoes?
- Seriously? After all the help I gave him, he didn't even bother to send a thank-you note.

Usage: often stands alone as a one-word question.

Teaching tip: In speech, the meaning changes based on intonation; a rising tone shows surprise, while a falling tone shows annoyance.

### 5. extremely

adverb · CEFR B2 · Informal · Slang

very or extremely; used to make an adjective stronger.

For teachers: used as a high-intensity degree adverb to modify adjectives.

- That new video game is seriously cool.
- The view from the top of the mountain was seriously impressive, making the four-hour climb feel entirely worth the effort.

Usage: placed immediately before the adjective it modifies.

Teaching tip: This is very common in youth slang and casual digital communication.

## Examples

- You need to take your studies seriously.
- The doctor spoke seriously about the risks of the surgery to ensure the patient understood the situation.
- While the initial reports were dismissed as rumors, the government began to take the threat seriously once the economic data confirmed a downturn.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.