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deserving

[ dih-zur-ving ]
/ dɪˈzɜr vɪŋ /
SEE 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.

Words related to deserving

commendable, fitting, admirable, due, estimable, laudable, needy, praiseworthy, righteous, rightful, thankworthy

Words nearby deserving

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

Origin of deserving

First recorded in 1570–80; deserve + -ing2

OTHER WORDS FROM deserving

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

OTHER WORDS FROM deserve

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. 2020

Examples from the Web for deserving

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 of deserving

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 of deserve

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.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.