Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

serving

American  
[sur-ving] / ˈsɜr vɪŋ /

noun

  1. the act of a person or thing that serves.

  2. a single portion of food or drink; helping.

  3. Electricity. a layer of material, as jute yarn or tape, that is applied to the core or the exterior of a lead-covered cable and acts as a protective covering.

adjective

  1. for use in distributing food to or at the table.

    a serving tray.
serving British  
/ ˈsɜːvɪŋ /

noun

  1. a portion or helping of food or drink

"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

Other Word Forms

  • unserving adjective

Etymology

Origin of serving

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English; serve + -ing 1

Vocabulary lists containing serving

Nutrition - Introductory

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Nutrition - Middle School

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!

Nutrition - High School

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

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.

The ranks of the four serving officers being investigated for gross misconduct are commander, detective chief inspector, detective sergeant and detective constable.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

Heaps has been serving his time at Soledad prison and will now return there to serve the rest of his 11-year sentence.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

Their design could also be integrated with other quantum technologies, serving as a building block for connecting different types of quantum platforms.

From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026

Her father, former president Alberto Fujimori, died in 2024 after serving 16 years in prison for crimes against humanity, bribery and embezzlement.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

Nevertheless, the Burr-Hamilton duel helped turn the tide against the practice of dueling by providing a focal point for its critics and serving as a dramatic object lesson of its self-destructive character.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

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.