Collocations for "serious"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "serious" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2026
serious
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.adj
- is a serious [student, person, employee]
- I'm dead serious
- am being serious with you
- need you to (try to) be more serious
- are you (being) serious?
- are you (really) serious about [meeting, buying, getting]
- offensive: are you f***ing serious?
- you [can't, cannot] (possibly) be serious!
- [don't, try not to] be too serious
- has a very serious personality
- has a serious side too
- a serious offer to [buy, help, take over]
- serious [bidders, inquiries] only
- this is a serious [problem, issue, matter, question, discussion]
- a serious [disease, illness, condition, relapse]
- had a serious (brain, back) injury
- [is, poses] a serious threat to our [safety, wellbeing]
- a serious lack of [judgment, care, sleep, energy, motivation]
- there is (however) one serious [flaw, drawback]
- there will be serious consequences if
- should be considered serious
- sustained serious [damage, losses]
- [plunged, ran] into serious trouble
- [potentially, deadly] serious
- serious and [persistent, imminent]
'serious' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
cause
- overcome
- realize
- show
- sound
- term
- accident
- burn
- condition
- damage
- danger
- coffee
- warning
- trouble
- threat
- talk
- study
- situation
- shit
- push
- promise
- problem
- mistake
- matter
- soul
- funny
- hopefully
- flesh
- chef
- cough
- defect
- discussion
- drawback
- failings
- felony
- fever
- flaw
- fling
- flooding
- jeopardy
- miscarriage
- misunderstanding
- realization
- scare
- setback
- sin
- wound
- alcohol
- battery
- bidder