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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Origin of deserving

First recorded in 1570–80; 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. 2022

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