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

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

Steve Sosnick, chief strategist at Interactive Brokers, said he didn’t think this latest episode was quite as deserving of the label.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026

In a few places, we included a deserving player at a secondary position, if his primary position was fully stocked.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

“Our own code of conduct. I prefer to see each person I glean as an individual deserving of an end that is unique.”

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

Related Words

• commendable