- 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.
Robert Pattinson, “Primetime” “Matt Damon does fantastic, unshowy work in ‘The Odyssey,’ in a performance that I think is deserving of the Oscar.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026
"And she's a very deserving lady and a deserving family."
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 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
This argument is ridiculous, as in deserving of ridicule.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
I glanced at Sal, who was concentrating on his basketball like the whole concept of bouncing had just been invented and was really very amazing and deserving of attention.
From "When You Reach Me" by Rebecca Stead
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
