deserve
Americanverb (used with object)
-
deserves,
present (3rd person singular)
-
deserved,
past participle, past
-
deserving
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
deserves,
present (3rd person singular)
-
deserved,
past participle, past
-
deserving
present participle
verb
-
(tr) to be entitled to or worthy of; merit
-
obsolete to be worthy
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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deservesimple
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deservessimple
-
have deservedperfect
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has deservedperfect
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am deservingprogressive
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are deservingprogressive
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is deservingprogressive
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have been deservingperfect progressive
-
has been deservingperfect progressive
Past
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deservedsimple
-
had deservedperfect
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was deservingprogressive
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were deservingprogressive
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had been deservingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of deserve
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English deserven, from Anglo-French, Old French deservir, from Latin dēservīre “to devote oneself to the service of,” equivalent to dē- de- + servīre “to serve” ( see serve)
Explanation
We deserve things based on our actions. For example, many people believe murderers deserve the death penalty. Deserve is used in many ways, but it always carries a sense of balance or justice. If someone receives an award for their work, it means they deserve praise and attention. If you deserve a day off, it means you've been working hard and have earned a vacation. If you threw a book during class, you deserve a punishment of some kind. Many laws — and lots of arguments — are about deciding what different people deserve. It's often hard to tell.
Vocabulary lists containing deserve
"Macbeth" Vocabulary from Act I
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Schooled
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History is made in PA: Clinton's DNC Acceptance Speech
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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:
Until we modify our laws so the mentally ill can get the help they need and deserve, nothing will change.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026
"If I have to be realistic and honest, today we didn't deserve to win," he said.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026
Kennedy has spent his tenure at HHS arguing that Americans deserve to know more about what they eat.
From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2026
“After paying millions of dollars in premiums, policyholders deserve the benefits and support they paid for,” said Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, whose district includes Pacific Palisades.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026
But they deserve to know everything about what’s happened to our families.
From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera
“Truth-telling” is the wrong description of what deserves recognition.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026
Sept. 11 was an event of its time and deserves to stand in history, but not entirely outside of context.
From Salon ● Sep. 11, 2026
Annemarie deserves the space to protect her peace, our children deserve the love and presence of both parents, and our family deserves the opportunity to move forward without conflict defining us.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026
That third rule deserves emphasis because of how ordinary the mistake looks.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026
Under other circumstances it might have been annoying, but he deserves a moment here.
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
"We did not listen in the way we should have, and this family deserved better from us."
From Barron's ● Sep. 15, 2026
Didn't get the clean sheet against Newcastle but deserved it.
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026
“This would have meant that she could never return to the life and freedom she deserved, even in a captive setting,” the organization stated.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
The German reputation for being cautious and meticulous in diplomatic matters is well deserved, and the three previous national governments have had relatively cordial relations with Russia.
From Salon ● Sep. 7, 2026
Why was life so set on bringing down those who least deserved it?
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
It forces a reassessment of the route which brought Benn here, and whether his body of work really suggested he was ready for, or deserving of, a world-title fight.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026
This argument is ridiculous, as in deserving of ridicule.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
The ongoing explosion of revival screenings in Los Angeles is an opportunity not just to revisit accepted classics, but also to give a spotlight to undersung oddball picks deserving of broader attention.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
That still leaves five candidates deserving closer study.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 10, 2026
“If you don’t sign that form, you’re saying I’m not good enough. You’re saying that most every girl in that room right now is prettier and more deserving than me. That’s what you’re telling me.”
From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy
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.
