- present participle of deserve.
deserving
Americanadjective
-
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.
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of deserving
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.
Making the playoffs in Major League Baseball is supposed to be a mark of excellence, a reward given only to the most deserving for enduring the grueling marathon of 162 games in roughly 180 days.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
"Very few people favour cuts, disabled people are seen as among the most deserving recipients of support, and proposals to reduce disability benefits appear politically risky across the political spectrum."
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
"In the 1840 narrative, Byfield sought to impress wealthy patrons by presenting himself as a dutiful soldier and deserving veteran," O'Keeffe says.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 7, 2026
The ongoing explosion of revival screenings in Los Angeles is an opportunity not just to revisit accepted classics, but also to give a spotlight to undersung oddball picks deserving of broader attention.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
To Casteen, these are steps to remove what he describes as “artificial barriers” to a college education placed in the way of otherwise deserving students.
From "Class Matters" by The New York Times
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.
