severe
sih-VEER
Severe (adjective) means Very bad, intense, or extreme. Example: “The region was hit by a severe drought that lasted three years.”
adjective
1
Very bad, intense, or extreme.
"The region was hit by a severe drought that lasted three years."
"She suffered severe injuries in the crash."
"A severe storm warning was issued for the whole coast last night."
2
Strict, harsh, or unforgiving.
"The judge was known for handing down severe sentences."
"His parents were severe about homework and curfews."
"The teacher was severe with latecomers and never accepted excuses."
3
Plain and unadorned in appearance; austere.
"She wore a severe black suit to the interview."
"The room had a severe look, with bare walls and one plain table."
"He preferred the severe lines of the building to fancy decoration."
How to use severe
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishExtremely serious, harsh, or intense — used for weather, pain, punishment, or a stark plain look.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
severe weather
severe pain
severe punishment
severe consequences
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Word forms
- Comparative
- severer, more severe
- Superlative
- most severe, severest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The region was hit by a _____ drought that lasted three years.
Etymology
From Middle French, ultimately from Latin severus, "serious, strict, grave."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for severe
See all rhymes for severe →Frequently asked questions
What does “severe” mean?
The word “severe” means very bad, intense, or extreme. In plain terms, extremely serious, harsh, or intense — used for weather, pain, punishment, or a stark plain look.
How do you pronounce “severe”?
“Severe” is pronounced sih-VEER (/sɪˈvɪɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “severe” in a sentence?
Here is “severe” used in a sentence: “The region was hit by a severe drought that lasted three years.”
What part of speech is “severe”?
“Severe” is an adjective.
Where does the word “severe” come from?
The word “severe” comes from Latin. From Middle French, ultimately from Latin severus, "serious, strict, grave.".
Is “severe” a common word?
“Severe” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “severe” have?
“Severe” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: very bad, intense, or extreme.
What is the difference between severe and serious?
Both signal something grave, but severe stresses intensity or degree, so severe pain is very strong pain, while serious stresses importance or danger. A condition can be serious because it matters, and severe because it is extreme. They often overlap, as in a severe or serious injury.
What is the opposite of severe?
The most common opposite is mild, used for pain, weather, illness, or punishment that is gentle rather than extreme. Depending on context, moderate or slight also work, and lenient is the opposite when severe describes a strict or harsh person or penalty.
Is severe a negative word?
Generally, yes. Severe describes things that are very bad, intense, or harsh, such as severe weather, a severe shortage, or severe criticism, so it usually carries a negative or worrying tone. It can also mean strict or austere, as in a severe expression or a severe, plain design.
What is an example of severe in a sentence?
For example: 'The region was hit by a severe drought.' Here severe means extreme in degree. It commonly pairs with words like pain, weather, damage, illness, and shortage to stress how intense or serious the situation is.
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