Severe means extremely serious, harsh, or intense. A severe thunderstorm brings dangerous lightning and powerful winds that can cause damage and injuries. A severe injury requires immediate medical attention, while a minor scrape just needs a bandage.

When describing rules or punishments, severe means unusually strict or harsh. A teacher might give a severe consequence for repeated misbehavior, something more serious than the usual warning. A severe critic judges things very harshly, finding fault where others might be more forgiving.

The word can also describe someone's appearance or manner when they look extremely serious and stern. A principal with a severe expression might have a tight mouth and unsmiling eyes that signal they mean business.

Weather forecasters use severity to measure how dangerous conditions are. A severe winter brings record cold and heavy snow. A severe drought means crops fail and water runs very short. The word tells you this isn't ordinary: it's extreme, it's intense, and it demands attention.

Notice that severe always suggests something beyond normal. A regular headache is annoying, but a severe headache might send you to bed in a dark room. The word warns you that this is serious.