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deserving

[ dih-zur-ving ]
/ dɪˈzɜr vɪŋ /
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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.
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Origin of deserving

First recorded in1570–80; deserve + -ing2

OTHER WORDS FROM deserving

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use deserving in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for deserving

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
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
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