deserve
Americanverb (used with object)
-
deserves,
present (3rd person singular)
-
deserved,
past participle, past
-
deserving
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
deserves,
present (3rd person singular)
-
deserved,
past participle, past
-
deserving
present participle
verb
-
(tr) to be entitled to or worthy of; merit
-
obsolete to be worthy
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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deservesimple
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deservessimple
-
have deservedperfect
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has deservedperfect
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am deservingprogressive
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are deservingprogressive
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is deservingprogressive
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have been deservingperfect progressive
-
has been deservingperfect progressive
Past
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deservedsimple
-
had deservedperfect
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was deservingprogressive
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were deservingprogressive
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had been deservingperfect progressive
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.
Vocabulary lists containing deserve
"Macbeth" Vocabulary from Act I
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Schooled
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History is made in PA: Clinton's DNC Acceptance Speech
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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.
See Examples For:
People living in a town where nine people have been killed in a crash and fire in the past week deserve to "feel safe in their own homes", a council leader has said.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
“I’m a product of bravery, and I think those people deserve to be celebrated.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
“Farm workers deserve to be paid a fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work,” she said in a statement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
They were arguing instead that mothers and children deserve more care and support — from fathers, from employers, from society-at-large.
From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026
Even if she did deserve it, because of signing me up for math club without even asking me.
From Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff
The film’s argument — even he deserves better from the company that’s made a fortune selling him bunk — feels rousing, even revolutionary.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
Pernille Ironside, UNICEF's representative in Pakistan, said: "Every newborn deserves a safe start to life, and every mother and child should be able to receive care in a safe, secure health facility."
From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026
Ian Wright says Gabriel Martinelli deserves "more respect" from Arsenal and questioned the way the club have handled the winger's potential exit.
From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026
“But I’ve always believed it deserves to be the reason you come in the first place.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
“We’ve been around for nineteen years! No one deserves to expand more than us!”
From "The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora" by Pablo Cartaya
Sell for the sake of the Sparks, who have long deserved an owner who wants seriously to run the team like Walter’s group runs, well, the Dodgers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026
For a film as thoughtful as this one, further introspection is not only deserved, but wildly rewarding.
From Salon ● Aug. 24, 2026
Scored a fortunate third but his performance deserved a goal.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
People who worked with him and knew the couple said she made sure his ideas were given the credit she felt they deserved.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
“I’m sorry, Nic Nac. No matter my reasoning, I kept you from having an amazing mom and brother. You deserved better than what I gave you.”
From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas
Saints owner Dragan Solak revealed to BBC Sport in early June that he would not sack Eckert and that he was deserving of a second chance.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
So I got her frustration, but in the end, a deserving champ prevailed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
That’s a common enough type, deserving of empathy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
That still leaves five candidates deserving closer study.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 10, 2026
But she did not seem deserving of Gingersnipes’s fear.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
