ˈbæd.li ˈɝnɪstli ˈɜːnɪstli ˈɡɹeɪvli ˈsɪəɹi.əsli ˈsɪɹi.əsli to a severe or serious degree fingers so badly frozen they had to be amputated badly injured a severely impaired heart is gravely ill was seriously ill in a serious manner talking earnestly with his son she started studying snakes in earnest a play dealing seriously with the question of divorce