Synonyms

deserve

American

[dih-zurv] / dɪˈzɜrv /

verb (used with object)

deserved, deserving

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)

deserved, deserving

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

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” ( 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

"Macbeth" Vocabulary from Act I

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Schooled

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

History is made in PA: Clinton's DNC Acceptance Speech

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

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.

All of them deserve a shot at opening their doors.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

Americans deserve the ability to properly make sense of how inflation is measured.

From Slate • Apr. 24, 2026

"Taxpayers deserve value for money but the bottom line of any bid means nothing if the social and economic value to our communities is not properly taken into account."

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

“Music artists deserve to compete on a level playing field, not one distorted by bribes, and listeners deserve transparency in what they are being recommended,” Paxton said.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

“They didn’t deserve to win, by the way,” he added.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

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