Princeton's WordNet(3.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. deserve, merit(verb)

   be worthy or deserving

   "You deserve a promotion after all the hard work you have done"

Wiktionary(2.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. deserve(Verb)

   To be entitled to, as a result of past actions; to be worthy to have.

2. deserve(Verb)

   To earn, win.

3. deserve(Verb)

   To reward, to give in return for service.

Origin: From deservir, from deservire, from de- + servire.

Webster Dictionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Deserve(verb)

   to earn by service; to be worthy of (something due, either good or evil); to merit; to be entitled to; as, the laborer deserves his wages; a work of value deserves praise

2. Deserve(verb)

   to serve; to treat; to benefit

3. Deserve(verb)

   to be worthy of recompense; -- usually with ill or with well

Origin: [OF. deservir, desservir, to merit, L. deservire to serve zealously, be devoted to; de- + servire to serve. See Serve.]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(2.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Deserve

   de-zėrv′, v.t. to earn by service: to merit.—v.i. to be worthy of reward.—adj. Deserv′ing, worthy.—n. desert.—advs. Deserv′ingly, Deserv′edly, according to desert: justly. [Fr.,—L. deservīre—de, inten., servīre, to serve.]

British National Corpus

1. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'deserve' in Written Corpus Frequency: #4748

2. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'deserve' in Verbs Frequency: #557

Anagrams for deserve »

1. severed

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of deserve in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of deserve in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of deserve in a Sentence

1. Donald Trump:

   The America We Deserve.

2. Luke Messer:

   Our veterans deserve better.

3. English Proverb:

   First deserve, and then desire.

4. Jennifer Kesse:

   After 12 years, we deserve that.

5. Fred Allen:

   Do we really deserve top billing?

Images & Illustrations of deserve

Popularity rank by frequency of use