deserve

American  

[dih-zurv] / dɪˈzɜrv /

verb (used with object)

deserved, deserving

1. 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

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verb (used without object)

deserved, deserving

1. 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

1. (tr) to be entitled to or worthy of; merit

2. obsolete to be worthy

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deserve Idioms  

1. see one good turn deserves another.

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Other Word Forms

• deserved adjective
• deservedness noun
• deserver noun
• predeserve verb (used with object)

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” ( serve )

Example Sentences

"There is still a lot to fight for this season, we are ready to pull everyone together and give the fans the performances that their loyal support deserves."

From Barron's

“We can no longer sit idly by while our rural communities go without help. They deserve solutions and security, not another decade of inaction and uncertainty.”

From Los Angeles Times

I’d read enough newspapers by now to know about abolitionists, and I did not think the term deserved to go hand in hand with the word traitor.

From Literature

"Twelve o'clock, you're not really getting to that time that often, but if you win, you deserve to probably go and relax and enjoy yourself."

From BBC

Of course, some low P/E ratio stocks deserve their low valuations, so not every stock with a low ratio proceeds to perform handsomely.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• earn
• gain
• get
• justify
• merit
• warrant
• win