deserving

American  

[dih-zur-ving] / dɪˈzɜr vɪŋ /

adjective

1. qualified for or having a claim to reward, assistance, etc., because of one's actions, qualities, or situation.

   the deserving poor;

   a deserving applicant.

2. meriting; worthy.

   a criminal deserving of a lifetime sentence.

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deserving British  

/ dɪˈzɜːvɪŋ /

adjective

1. worthy, esp of praise or reward

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noun

1. rare a merit or demerit; desert

Other Word Forms

• deservingly adverb
• deservingness noun
• self-deserving adjective
• undeserving adjective
• undeservingly adverb
• undeservingness noun

Etymology

Origin of deserving

First recorded in 1570–80; deserve + -ing ²

Example Sentences

A red-card escape in the Women's Champions League for Katie McCabe perhaps shows the kind of decision fans really see as deserving of a ban.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

While the strategists say those sectors are deserving of higher values, tech is being overly punished despite strong growth rates.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026

Teammates including James and Doncic count Reaves among their peers deserving of star status.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 15, 2026

Also deserving of your time is Ignacio Gatica’s video about Sanhattan, the district in Santiago, Chile, that intentionally resembles Manhattan.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

For an hour or two every Thursday, when Jalil came to see her, all smiles and gifts and endearments, Mariam felt deserving of all the beauty and bounty that life had to give.

From "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini

Related Words

• commendable