Synonyms

deserve

American

[dih-zurv] / dɪˈzɜrv /

verb (used with object)

to merit, be qualified for, or have a claim to (reward, assistance, punishment, etc.) because of actions, qualities, or situation.

to deserve exile; to deserve charity; a theory that deserves consideration.

Synonyms:

justify, warrant, rate

verb (used without object)

to be worthy of, qualified for, or have a claim to reward, punishment, recompense, etc..

to reward him as he deserves; an idea deserving of study.

deserve British

/ dɪˈzɜːvɪdnɪs, dɪˈzɜːv /

verb

(tr) to be entitled to or worthy of; merit
obsolete to be worthy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

deserve Idioms

see one good turn deserves another.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of deserve

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English deserven, from Anglo-French, Old French deservir, from Latin dēservīre “to devote oneself to the service of,” equivalent to dē- de- + servīre “to serve” ( see serve)

Explanation

We deserve things based on our actions. For example, many people believe murderers deserve the death penalty. Deserve is used in many ways, but it always carries a sense of balance or justice. If someone receives an award for their work, it means they deserve praise and attention. If you deserve a day off, it means you've been working hard and have earned a vacation. If you threw a book during class, you deserve a punishment of some kind. Many laws — and lots of arguments — are about deciding what different people deserve. It's often hard to tell.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing deserve

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Kacie Rose, a former professional dancer, shares vignettes of her new life in Italy that she compiled into a bestselling memoir, “You Deserve Good Gelato.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

Leaders We Deserve also announced a $1 million investment in Pearson’s bid.

From Salon • Oct. 8, 2025

Earlier this month, Mr. Hogg launched a grassroots organization called Leaders We Deserve to help elect Generation Z candidates to local, state and federal offices.

From Washington Times • Aug. 26, 2023

The department, he said, has directly taken to heart concerns raised by Students Deserve and other groups.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 18, 2022

Titled something along the lines of "I Deserve Another Chance," her story was not well received by the class.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023