serve
verb (used without object)
to act as a servant.
have served
-
present perfectof serve.present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
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.
Had a jury agreed with them, Salazar would have served his sentence while receiving mental health treatment in a state hospital.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
They have served as "a buffer that absorbs bad years so that a single drought or a single dry season does not translate directly into a water crisis", she told reporters.
From Barron's ● Sep. 17, 2026
Taking a look through the listing, it’s easy to see how the four-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom property would have served as a relaxing retreat for an editor who had such an impact on the film industry.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026
The fossil also preserves features on Urokodia's legs that may have served as book gills, allowing the animal to breathe underwater.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 4, 2026
Penelope found this a thought-provoking remark; it would have served as the very definition of irony if not for the fact that it was so sad—but Lady Constance, rather uncharacteristically, said no more.
From "The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling" by Maryrose Wood
