serious demeanor
1
4.6
- noun
- /ˈsɪr.i.əs dɪˈmiː.nɚ/
:
actitud seria
- He maintained his serious demeanor, but it was difficult.
Examples
-
For a moment, the serious demeanor dissolves and the oddest thing happens.
Fiction book (2000) -
There are also some crude black stitches in this face, and we realize that it is James's face, and that it is Catherine who is applying the makeup with a very serious demeanor.
Fiction book (1996) -
You will maintain a serious demeanor at all times.
-
The director has a serious demeanor, but her voice is inviting.
Academic text (2011) -
His was the most scholarly and serious demeanor imaginable; one way to memorialize the growing rift was to develop a professional style as different from his as possible.
Academic text (2006) -
Remember, we're in the 21st century now, and with a more serious demeanor taking hold in all things 007, it just wouldn't do to flaunt a whole bunch of frivolous eye candy.
Blog text (2) -
Barton seemed to admire her serious demeanor, her powerful mind, and her indifferent dress. She seemed an iconoclast also—at a time when there weren't many girls around.
Fiction book (2000) -
When addressing the audience, he maintained a serious demeanor that commanded respect.
-
Despite the lighthearted atmosphere, she kept a serious demeanor while discussing the important issues.
-
His serious demeanor during the meeting signaled the gravity of the situation to his colleagues.
Synonyms
53
2.7
A calm and honest way of speaking or acting that shows you mean what you say
9
7.0
A serious, formal feeling that shows respect
8
4.9
A serious, sincere feeling that shows you really care and try hard
1
6.5
A serious, sad mood that feels quiet and heavy
A serious, calm way of speaking or acting that shows importance
Being careful and thoughtful about important things
A serious and calm way of behaving that shows respect
Antonyms
How Serious
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: combining 'serious' (solemn, not joking) with 'demeanor' (a person's behavior) yields a manner of behaving that is grave or earnest. This adjective+noun pattern is a standard, cross-linguistic way to describe behavior, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
Serious demeanor comes from the image of a person with a calm, unsmiling face and steady posture, where serious means not joking and demeanor means how someone behaves or looks. So it means acting in a way that shows you are 'earnest' or thinking about important things.