deserving

[ dih-zur-ving ]

/ dɪˈzɜr vɪŋ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR deserving ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

qualified for or having a claim to reward, assistance, etc., because of one's actions, qualities, or situation: the deserving poor; a deserving applicant.

meriting; worthy: a criminal deserving of a lifetime sentence.

Nearby words

desertification, desertion, deserve, deserved, deservedly, deserving, desex, desexualize, deshabille, desi, desiccant

Origin of deserving

First recorded in 1570–80; deserve + -ing²

Related forms

de·serv·ing·ly, adverbde·serv·ing·ness, nounself-de·serv·ing, adjectiveun·de·serv·ing, adjective

un·de·serv·ing·ly, adverbun·de·serv·ing·ness, noun

Definition for deserving (2 of 2)

deserve

[ dih-zurv ]

/ dɪˈzɜrv /

verb (used with object), de·served, de·serv·ing.

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.

verb (used without object), de·served, de·serv·ing.

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.

Origin of deserve

1250–1300; Middle English deserven < Anglo-French, Old French deservir, Latin dēservīre to devote oneself to the service of, equivalent to dē- de- + servīre to serve

SYNONYMS FOR deserve

1 rate, warrant, justify.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR deserve ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

de·serv·er, nounpre·de·serve, verb (used with object), pre·de·served, pre·de·serv·ing.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for deserving

The bailout crybabies of Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and all the rest are easy targets—and deserving ones, too.
How Naive is Elizabeth Warren?|Nick Gillespie|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Golden Age-of-TV evangelists prate on about which glorified soap operas are most deserving of our rapt attention.
America’s Meddlers Are Our Worst Enemies|Stefan Beck|October 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Medal of Honor has been awarded only 13 times in more than a decade of conflict while deserving recipients are passed over.
The Medal of Honor Disgrace|Brian Van Reet|March 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But Patinkin, 60, is the most deserving of the bunch, and he should be duly recognized along with his Homeland colleagues.
Give Mandy Patinkin an Emmy Nomination for ‘Homeland,’ Already!|Jason Lynch|July 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST

While fighting speech with more speech is a powerful slogan, not every speaker nor every ideology is deserving of a response.
Removing the Kahane Google App Isn’t Censorship|David Sterman|July 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
She had said she had only come at the instigation of her son, who looked upon Anna as a deserving object of help.
The Benefactress|Elizabeth Beauchamp
In its new phase the undertaking has succeeded; and it is not always that fortune descends upon so deserving a head.
Picture and Text|Henry James
Windsor is the next town in the colony of New South Wales, which appears to be deserving of a particular notice.
Australia, its history and present condition|William Pridden
So they let Joe out of his stall and showed the Deputy how deserving he was of the finest mate that could be in horsedom.
The Trimmed Lamp|O. Henry
What it does is not faulty or sinful, or deserving of any punishment.
The Best of the World's Classics, Restricted to Prose, Vol. IX (of X) - America - I|Various

British Dictionary definitions for deserving (1 of 2)

deserving

/ (dɪˈzɜːvɪŋ) /

adjective

(often postpositive and foll by of) worthy, esp of praise or reward

noun

rare a merit or demerit; desert

Derived Forms

deservingly, adverbdeservingness, noun

British Dictionary definitions for deserving (2 of 2)

deserve

/ (dɪˈzɜːv) /

verb

(tr) to be entitled to or worthy of; merit

(intr foll by of) obsolete to be worthy

Derived Forms

deserved, adjectivedeservedness (dɪˈzɜːvɪdnɪs), noundeserver, noun

Word Origin for deserve

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

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

Idioms and Phrases with deserving

deserve

see one good turn deserves another.