severe

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.

“Severe” is pronounced sih-VEER (/sɪˈvɪɹ/ in IPA).

Here is “severe” used in a sentence: “The region was hit by a severe drought that lasted three years.”

“Severe” is an adjective.

The word “severe” comes from Latin. From Middle French, ultimately from Latin severus, "serious, strict, grave.".

“Severe” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Severe” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: very bad, intense, or extreme.

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.

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.

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.

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.