Advertisement

View synonyms for deserve

deserve

[ dih-zurv ]

verb (used with object)

, de·served, de·serv·ing.
  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



verb (used without object)

, de·served, de·serv·ing.
  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

/ dɪˈzɜːvɪdnɪs; dɪˈzɜːv /

verb

  1. tr to be entitled to or worthy of; merit
  2. obsolete.
    intrfoll byof 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


Discover More

Derived Forms

  • deservedness, noun
  • deˈserver, noun
  • deˈserved, adjective
Discover More

Other Words From

  • de·server noun
  • prede·serve verb (used with object) predeserved predeserving
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of deserve1

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 )
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of deserve1

C13: from Old French deservir, from Latin dēservīre to serve devotedly, from de- + servīre to serve
Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

see one good turn deserves another .
Discover More

Example Sentences

As we have done since April, our office will continue to work tirelessly and without distraction to provide the answers that the Prude family and Rochester community deserve.

How much crap you endure should not be indicative of the love that you deserve.

From Ozy

You may nominate as many organizations or individuals as you feel deserve the recognition.

Being ushered out an entire round sooner — in a five-game gentleman’s sweep, and as the favorite — deserves far greater scrutiny.

While I may not have the money to attend fundraising dinners with the Democratic Party’s leaders, I deserve a party—and an economy—that returns as much benefit to me as I provide to it.

From Fortune

Tavakoli and the scores of other activists, bloggers, journalists and lawyers jailed in Iran deserve our unwavering support.

They deserve every penny and more: booking a four week tour is a huge job.

Women deserve to have meaningful roles in the shaping of the future of Afghanistan.

In no way, he said, did Brown deserve to die for what began as petty theft.

They were advised to “try showing a little class” and “[d]ress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar.”

If you throw away this chance, you will both richly deserve to be hanged, as I sincerely trust you will be.

As such it is now presented to the public for whatever meed of praise or censure it is found to deserve.

History gives them scant notice, and the Federal government has failed to reward them as they deserve.

Tell Lady Maude the candid truth, and take shame and blame to yourself, as you deserve.

There is one other department of children's art which clearly does deserve to be studied with some care—their drawing.

Advertisement

Related Words

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.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


desert varnishdeserved