{
    "term": "serious",
    "partOfSpeech": "adjective",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a2",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "bad or dangerous",
            "sensetop": "serious for somebody/something",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a **serious illness/offence/crime**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a **serious problem/issue**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "to cause **serious injury/damage/harm**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "They pose a **serious threat** to security."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The **consequences** could be **serious**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A few years ago, the company was in serious trouble."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Their economies continue to face serious challenges."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She is in serious financial trouble."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She is now in a serious condition in Belfast Hospital."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This situation could be very serious for her.",
                    "contextForm": "serious for somebody/something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "By this time the riots were getting serious."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The crime is considered serious enough to warrant a jail term."
                },
                {
                    "text": "These are terribly serious allegations."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He admitted to having made a serious error of judgement."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He died after suffering from a serious illness."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The storm caused serious damage to farm buildings."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The country is now facing a serious political crisis."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The children were considered to be at serious risk of harm."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Your chances of having a serious accident at work can be quite high."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Health problems", "Crime and punishment"],
            "collocations": {
                "verbs": ["be", "look", "seem"],
                "adverb": ["extremely", "fairly", "very"],
                "preposition": ["for"],
                "phrases": ["nothing serious", "serious enough to warrant something"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "thinking about things in a careful and sensible way; not silly",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "**Be serious** for a moment; this is important."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I'm afraid I'm not a very serious person."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He became serious all of a sudden."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She was looking at him with a serious expression on her face."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Suddenly the conversation turned serious."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "sincere about something; not joking or meant as a joke",
            "sensetop": "serious about doing somethingserious about somebody/something",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Believe me, I'm **deadly** *(= extremely)* **serious**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Don't laugh, it's a serious suggestion."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Is she serious about wanting to sell the house?",
                    "contextForm": "serious about doing something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He knew it was time to **get serious** about losing weight."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He's really serious about Penny and wants to get engaged.",
                    "contextForm": "serious about somebody/something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She doesn’t have a serious boyfriend."
                },
                {
                    "text": "**You can't be serious!** *(= you must be joking)*"
                },
                {
                    "text": "You think I did it? **Be serious!** *(= what you suggest is ridiculous)*"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Are you serious about resigning?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Joe is deadly serious in his beliefs."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Please try to stay serious!"
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "verbs": ["be", "look", "sound"],
                "adverb": ["extremely", "fairly", "very"],
                "preposition": ["about"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "needing to be thought about carefully; not only for pleasure",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a serious article"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a serious newspaper"
                },
                {
                    "text": "an appreciation of serious music"
                },
                {
                    "text": "serious drama/fiction"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Why do you waste your time reading that? It's hardly a serious newspaper, is it?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "This book is the first serious study of the subject."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The speech was interesting, if a little serious for such a young audience."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's time for a serious debate about the issue."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "that must be treated as important",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a serious matter"
                },
                {
                    "text": "**serious questions/concerns/doubts**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "serious allegations/charges"
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's time to give **serious consideration** to this matter."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Please give it some serious thought before you make a decision."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The subject has received little serious attention."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We need to get down to the serious business of working out costs."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The team is a serious contender for the title this year."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 6,
            "definition": "used to emphasize that there is a large amount of something",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "You can earn serious money doing that."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I'm ready to do some serious eating *(= I am very hungry)*."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈsɪəriəs/",
                "audio": "se/serious/serious__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈsɪriəs/",
                "audio": "se/serious/serious__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "late Middle English: from Old French serieux or late Latin seriosus, from Latin serius ‘earnest, serious’."
}