deserving

American  

[dih-zur-ving] / dɪˈzɜr vɪŋ /

adjective

1. qualified for or having a claim to reward, assistance, etc., because of one's actions, qualities, or situation.

   the deserving poor;

   a deserving applicant.

2. meriting; worthy.

   a criminal deserving of a lifetime sentence.

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deserving British  

/ dɪˈzɜːvɪŋ /

adjective

1. worthy, esp of praise or reward

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noun

1. rare a merit or demerit; desert

Other Word Forms

• deservingly
  adverb
• deservingness
  noun
• self-deserving
  adjective
• undeserving
  adjective
• undeservingly
  adverb
• undeservingness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of deserving

First recorded in 1570–80; deserve + -ing ²

Example Sentences

Wednesday is the last day politicians have to persuade the public that they are deserving of support.

From BBC • May 5, 2026

But her lead performance in “Little Bear Ridge Road” is just as deserving of recognition.

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026

Financial-disclosure frameworks at the Securities and Exchange Commission, and parallel regimes across the European Union and U.K., treated these damage projections as credible scientific findings deserving regulatory weight.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

While the strategists say those sectors are deserving of higher values, tech is being overly punished despite strong growth rates.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026

If I felt strongly enough about Jesse’s deserving a shot— and I did—maybe such a trip would get his application a closer look or convince somebody in the admissions office that he was worth meeting.

From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz

Related Words

• commendable