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

"She was a 17-year-old child and she was not deserving of that," the judge added.

From BBC

"We need to be seen as just as important as and deserving of respect as the boys, so I think it is really admirable what they have done," she added.

From BBC

But even if favoritism could’ve played a role in the voting, “Good Hang” is more than deserving of its first major accolade.

From Salon

Again, the party seems like it was fun, and Foster attracts a deserving cohort for her first all-French-speaking role since 2004’s “A Very Long Engagement.”

From Los Angeles Times

Judge Ouslander will make the final decision, and it’s hard to imagine someone more deserving of asylum than Mr. Guan.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• commendable