serve
Americanverb (used without object)
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to act as a servant.
- Synonyms:
- attend
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to wait on table, as a waiter.
- Synonyms:
- attend
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to offer or have a meal or refreshments available, as for patrons or guests.
Come early, we're serving at six.
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to offer or distribute a portion or portions of food or a beverage, as a host or hostess.
It was her turn to serve at the faculty tea.
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to render assistance; be of use; help.
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to go through a term of service, do duty as a soldier, sailor, senator, juror, etc.
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to have definite use.
This cup will serve as a sugar bowl.
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to answer the purpose.
That will serve to explain my actions.
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(in tennis, badminton, handball, etc.) to put the ball or shuttlecock in play with a stroke, swing, or hit.
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to be favorable, suitable, or convenient, as weather or time.
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Ecclesiastical. to act as a server.
verb (used with object)
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to be in the service of; work for.
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to be useful or of service to; help.
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to go through (a term of service, imprisonment, etc.).
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to render active service to (a sovereign, commander, etc.).
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to render obedience or homage to (God, a sovereign, etc.).
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to perform the duties of (a position, an office, etc.).
to serve his mayoralty.
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to answer the requirements of; suffice.
This will serve our needs for the moment.
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to contribute to; promote.
to serve a cause.
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to wait upon at table; act as a waiter or waitress to.
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to carry and distribute (portions of food or drink) to a patron or a specific table, as a waiter or waitress.
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to act as a host or hostess in offering (a person) a portion of food or drink.
May I serve you with some tea and cake?
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to act as a host or hostess in offering or distributing (a portion or portions of food or drink) to another.
They served tea and cake to their guests.
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to provide with a regular or continuous supply of something.
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(in tennis, badminton, handball, etc.) to put (the ball or shuttlecock) in play.
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to treat in a specified manner.
That served him ill.
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Law.
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to make legal delivery of (a process or writ).
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to present (a person) with a writ.
-
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to gratify (desire, wants, needs, etc.).
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(of a male animal) to mate with; service.
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to operate or keep in action (a gun, artillery, etc.).
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Nautical. to wrap (a rope) tightly with small stuff, keeping the turns as close together as possible.
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Slang. to present or embody (a particular aesthetic, persona, or quality) in a confident or captivating way.
noun
idioms
verb
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to be in the service of (a person)
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to render or be of service to (a person, cause, etc); help
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(in a shop) to give (customers) information about articles for sale and to hand over articles purchased
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(tr) to provide (guests, customers, etc) with food, drink, etc
she served her guests with cocktails
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to distribute or provide (food, drink, etc) for guests, customers, etc
do you serve coffee?
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to present (food, drink, etc) in a specified manner
cauliflower served with cheese sauce
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(tr) to provide with a regular supply of
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(tr) to work actively for
to serve the government
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(tr) to pay homage to
to serve God
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to answer the requirements of; suit
this will serve my purpose
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(intr; may take an infinitive) to have a use; function
this wood will serve to build a fire
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to go through (a period of service, enlistment, imprisonment, etc)
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(intr) (of weather, conditions, etc) to be favourable or suitable
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Also: service. (tr) (of a male animal) to copulate with (a female animal)
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sport to put (the ball) into play
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(intr) RC Church to act as server at Mass or other services
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(tr) to deliver (a legal document, esp a writ or summons) to (a person)
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to provide (a machine, etc) with an impulse or signal for control purposes or with a continuous supply of fuel, working material, etc
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(tr) nautical to bind (a rope, spar, etc) with wire or fine cord to protect it from chafing, etc See also seize
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informal to pay a person back, esp for wrongful or foolish treatment or behaviour
noun
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sport short for service 1
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a portion or helping of food or drink
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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overserveverb (used with object)
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servableadjective
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serveableadjective
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underservedadjective
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unservableadjective
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unservedadjective
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well-servedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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servesimple
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servessimple
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have servedperfect
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has servedperfect
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am servingprogressive
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are servingprogressive
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is servingprogressive
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have been servingperfect progressive
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has been servingperfect progressive
Past
-
servedsimple
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had servedperfect
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was servingprogressive
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were servingprogressive
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had been servingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of serve
First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English serven, from Old French servir, from Latin servīre, equivalent to serv(us) “enslaved person” ( cf. serf) + -īre, infinitive suffix
Explanation
To serve is to perform a role or function. While your co-worker is out sick, you gladly serve as his replacement until he gets better. Serve comes from the Latin word for servant or slave, but you can serve people without being subordinate to them. You might serve your family hamburgers for dinner, or serve the tennis ball. If you serve a cause, you devote yourself to it. Bug repellant will serve you well on a summer fishing trip. In prison you serve time. If you're elected Mayor, you'll serve a term of three or four years.
Vocabulary lists containing serve
The Smashing Lexicon of Tennis
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"The Challenge"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
5th Grade Government Vocabulary, List 1
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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.
See Examples For:
Arun Chandrasekaran, an analyst focused on AI at market research and IT consulting firm Gartner, said the partnership helps Microsoft better serve European customers with a buzzy concept called “sovereign AI.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
The jointly developed hybrid-electric aircraft is designed to serve both defense and commercial purposes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
Don't completely ban them, says Kieron - just serve snacks alongside healthier options, like berries or other fruit, replicate snack times at school and don't stress about the odd treat.
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
Under the multiyear partnership, Disney will serve Kraft Heinz products at its properties throughout North America, and Kraft Heinz will be able to use Disney’s characters on some goods in stores.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
“It’s probably too warped to be useful. It would serve us better in the fire.”
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
Taiwanese giant Foxconn assembles server racks in Jalisco, and serves as a strategic partner to US chip designer Nvidia.
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
With our lawsuit, we’re fighting for a free and fair market and a thriving film and television industry that serves creatives and audiences alike.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
The agency, based between New York and Los Angeles, often serves clients who rotate across their five to 10 homes, with full staff at each property.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026
Its surface therefore serves as a much more complete archive of ancient impacts.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 18, 2026
Poe serves the most beautiful-looking lobster pasta dish I have ever seen, garnished with basil leaves and fresh Parmesan and even truffles!
From "Five Feet Apart" by Rachael Lippincott
In its defence the restaurant owner argued that just 60% of diners had opted to try the ants, while the rest were served alternatives like fermented vinegar and edible flowers.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
In June, six people were accused of embezzlement and taken into custody, including Fidesz politician Balazs Bus, who served as the culture fund's vice-president.
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
Which seafood may be served in a style called Kilpatrick?
From Slate ● Jul. 21, 2026
The superintendent himself served as the master of ceremonies, with performers weaving around him, cameos by celebrities, and slide projections and film sequences appearing on cue to supplement his applause and laugh lines.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
Upstairs was the room that served as both the church and the classroom.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
Burnham is a huge rugby league fan, serving as president of the Rugby Football League and is a Leigh Leopards supporter.
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
Bisignano said: “My experience working for leaders such as Jamie Dimon, Sandy Weill, Tony Terracciano, Henry Kravis and Scott Nuttall has prepared me for the privilege of serving the American people.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
Perez’s only request to the court was that Zambada be spared the fate of El Chapo, who is serving out his life sentence under strict isolation at a federal supermax prison in Colorado.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
The two-time major winner is a friend of Trump, serving on the President's council on sports, fitness and nutrition, playing golf with him and making an appearance at the White House in May.
From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026
The only interested parties missing from the conference were the ultimate borrowers, the American home buyers, but even they, in a way, were on hand, serving drinks, spinning wheels, and rolling dice.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
