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serious issue

serious issue

41 3.0
A problem that needs careful attention and action
  • noun
translation icon : problema grave
  • We depend on pollinators for over a third of the fruits and vegetables we eat and many scientists believe it's the most serious issue facing mankind.
  • raise a serious issue
  • face a serious issue
  • address serious issues

Those empires, though, had serious issues of their own.

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Examples

  • Effective stories deal with serious issues involving powerful emotions.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Global warming is a very serious issue, an issue that I have decided to finally deal with.

  • But yeah, this is a serious issue for everybody.

  • How to find time for research seems to be a serious issue for teachers.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Abortion is a serious issue because life is involved, and one needs always to respect life.

    Academic text (1990)
  • There are also some serious issues of timing and responsibility.

    Academic text (2003)
  • But in regard to special education students, serious issues must be addressed.

    Academic text (2005)
  • On the whole, water quality is becoming a more and more serious issue in New Mexico and along the U.S./Mexico border.

    Academic text (2005)
  • Teacher turnover is a serious issue facing high-need high schools.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Global warming is a serious issue that requires immediate action from everyone.

Synonyms

problem
vsserious issue
1.2

A situation that causes trouble and needs a solution

highlights importance and urgency rather than mere difficulty
issue
vsserious issue
3.0

An important topic or problem people discuss

focuses on great importance that demands careful action rather than broad discussion
major issue
vsserious issue
51 3.2

An important problem that needs a solution

emphasizes very high importance and need for careful action
paramount issue
vsserious issue
1 5.2

A very important problem that must be solved first

says it is very important but not always the absolute top priority

Antonyms

6 5.4

A small detail that does not matter

How Serious

major issue
51 3.2
serious issue
41 3.0
minor detail
6 3.2
triviality
6 5.4

Surface Forms

issue singular
issues plural

Morphology

serious + issue

The meaning 'a problem or matter of great importance' is directly and compositionally derived from 'serious' (important; significant consequences) combined with 'issue' (a subject or problem). This is a straightforward adjective+noun construction common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Serious issue comes from the idea of something heavy and hard to ignore: serious suggests weight or danger and issue means a matter or problem. So it refers to a 'problem' that is very important and needs careful attention.