different between intense vs serious

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French intense, from Latin intensus (“stretched tight”), past participle of intendere (“to stretch out”), from in (“in, upon, to”) + tendere (“to stretch”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?n?t?ns/
• Rhymes: -?ns

Adjective

intense (comparative intenser or more intense, superlative intensest or most intense)

1. Strained; tightly drawn.
2. Strict, very close or earnest.
3. Extreme in degree; excessive.
4. Extreme in size or strength.
5. Stressful and tiring.
6. Very severe.
7. Very emotional or passionate.

Derived terms

Related terms

• intensive

Translations

Further reading

• intense in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• intense in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• intense at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• enseint, sentine, tennesi, tennies

Dutch

Pronunciation

Adjective

intense

1. Inflected form of intens

Anagrams

• niesten

French

Etymology

From Middle French intense. Ultimately from Latin intensus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??.t??s/

Adjective

intense (plural intenses)

1. intense

Related terms

Further reading

• “intense” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Anagrams

• seinent, tiennes

Interlingua

Adjective

intense (comparative plus intense, superlative le plus intense)

1. intense

Related terms

• intensitate

Italian

Adjective

intense f pl

1. feminine plural of intenso

Anagrams

• sentine

Latin

Adjective

int?nse

1. vocative masculine singular of int?nsus

Norwegian Bokmål

Adjective

intense

1. inflection of intens:
   1. definite singular
   2. plural

Norwegian Nynorsk

Adjective

intense

1. inflection of intens:
   1. definite singular
   2. plural

English

Etymology

From Middle English seryows, from Old French serieux, from Medieval Latin s?ri?sus, an extension of Latin s?rius (“grave, earnest, serious”), from Proto-Indo-European *swer- (“heavy”). Cognate with German schwer (“heavy, difficult, severe”), Old English sw?r (“heavy, grave, grievous”). More at swear, sweer.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?s???.i.?s/, [?si??.i.?s]
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?s??.?i.?s/
• Rhymes: -???i?s
• Homophones: cereous, Sirius (one pronunciation)

Adjective

serious (comparative more serious or seriouser, superlative most serious or seriousest)

1. Without humor or expression of happiness; grave in manner or disposition

   It was a surprise to see the captain, who had always seemed so serious, laugh so heartily.

   Synonyms: earnest, solemn

2. Important; weighty; not insignificant

   This is a serious problem. We'll need our best experts.

3. Really intending what is said (or planned, etc); in earnest; not jocular or deceiving

   After all these years, we're finally getting serious attention.

   He says he wants to buy the team, but is he serious?

4. (of a relationship) Committed.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:serious

Antonyms

• (important, weighty): trifling, unimportant
• (intending what is said): jesting

Derived terms

• srs (abbreviation)
• dead serious
• seriously
• seriousness
• serious-minded
• serious-mindedly
• serious-mindedness

Translations

Adverb

serious (not comparable)

1. (colloquial, dialect) In a serious manner; seriously.

Further reading

• serious in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• serious in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.