se‧vere S3 W3 / səvɪə, sɪvɪə $ -vɪr / 形容词

1 very serious severe problems, injuries, illnesses etc are very bad or very serious :

His injuries were quite severe.

She’s suffering from severe depression.

The US faces severe economic problems.

The storm caused severe damage.

Register

In everyday English, people usually say an injury, a problem etc is serious rather than severe :

His injuries were quite serious .

2 weather severe weather is very bad and very extreme, and very hot, dry, cold etc

3 punishment a severe punishment is very strict or extreme :

Drug smugglers can expect severe penalties.

4 criticism severe criticism is very extreme and shows that you think someone has done something very badly :

The president came under severe criticism for his handling of the crisis.

5 difficult very difficult and needing a lot of effort and skill :

The negotiations will be a severe test of his abilities.

6 person someone who is severe behaves in a way that does not seem friendly or sympathetic, and is very strict or disapproving 同义词 stern :

His slightly severe expression softened.

7 plain very plain with little or no decoration :

a rather severe red-brick building

— severity / səverəti, sɪverəti / 名词 [可数和不可数名词] :

We didn’t realize the severity of her illness.

COLLOCATIONS

名词

severe damage The blast caused severe damage to the surrounding buildings.

severe problems/difficulties The clothing industry has experienced severe problems in recent years.

a severe injury/illness She had suffered severe head injuries.

severe pain He was in severe pain and unable to call for help.

severe depression He suffered from severe depression when he was younger.

a severe case (= of a medical condition ) Hospitalization is necessary in severe cases.

a severe blow (= an event that has a very bad effect ) The closure of the mine was a severe blow to the country’s economy.