deserving

[ dih-zur-ving ]

/ dɪˈzɜr vɪŋ /

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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.

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Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of deserving

First recorded in1570–80; deserve + -ing²

OTHER WORDS FROM deserving

de·serv·ing·ly, adverbde·serv·ing·ness, nounself-de·serv·ing, adjectiveun·de·serv·ing, adjective

un·de·serv·ing·ly, adverbun·de·serv·ing·ness, noun

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

How to use deserving in a sentence

There’s so many guys who are more than deserving of being where I am, so please believe I don’t take it for granted.
Wizards guard Bradley Beal earns first NBA All-Star Game starting nod|Ava Wallace|February 19, 2021|Washington Post
Less fawning is a start, but I’d rather shine a light on the industry’s better bosses who may be less well known but equally deserving of acclaim.
The Toxicity of Restaurant Kitchens Is Exactly Why I Never Reported Abuses|Lindsey Danis|February 4, 2021|Eater
It’s as though in our mind, people in economically challenged communities are not deserving of some of the finer things that we placed in other communities.
A Leading NYC Mayoral Candidate Thinks Roof Farms Can Save America’s Cities|Amanda Kludt|January 14, 2021|Eater
One team executive suggested teams could meet with 15 or so initial candidates for a few hours over video conference, and doing so would give them a better chance to discover a deserving but unheralded candidate.
The NFL has tried to address its minority hiring problem. Will this year be different?|Adam Kilgore|December 17, 2020|Washington Post

Still, Arnold never forgave the stab that was then so deservingly yet so pityingly dealt him.
Great Men and Famous Women. Vol. 6 of 8|Various

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

deserving

Origin of deserving

OTHER WORDS FROM deserving

Words related to deserving

How to use deserving in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for deserving

Derived forms of deserving