Definitions for deserve
dɪˈzɜrvde·serve

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

1. deserve, meritverb

   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. deserveverb

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

2. deserveverb

   To earn, win.

3. deserveverb

   To reward, to give in return for service.

4. Etymology: From deservir, from deservire, from de- + servire.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. To DESERVEverb

   Etymology: deservir, French.

   1. To be worthy of either good or ill.

   Those they honoured, as having power to work or cease, as men deserved of them. Richard Hooker, b. i.

   Some of us love you well; and ev’n those some
   Envy your great deservings, and good name. William Shakespeare, Hen. IV.

   All friends shall taste
   The wages of their virtue, and all foes
   The cup of their deservings. William Shakespeare, King Lear.

   What he deserves of you and me I know. William Shakespeare, H. VIII.

   Yet well, if here would end
   The misery: I deserv’d it, and would bear
   My own deservings. John Milton, Paradise Lost, b. x. l. 727.

   Courts are the places where best manners flourish,
   Where the deserving ought to rise. Thomas Otway, Orphan.

   A mother cannot give him death; though he
   Deserves it, he deserves it not from me. John Dryden, Ovid.

   Since my Orazia’s death I have not seen
   A beauty so deserving to be queen,

   He had been a person of great deservings from the republick, was an admirable speaker, and very popular. Jonathan Swift.

   2. To be worthy of reward.

   According to the rule of natural justice one man may merit and deserve of another. Robert South, Sermons.

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

1. Deserveverb

   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. Deserveverb

   to serve; to treat; to benefit

3. Deserveverb

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

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

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(3.50 / 2 votes)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.]

Matched Categories

1. • Be

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

How to pronounce deserve?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say deserve in sign language?

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. White House:

   Admiral Jackson has been on the front lines of deadly combat and saved the lives of many others in service to this country, he's served as the physician to three Presidents—Republican and Democrat—and been praised by them all. Admiral Jackson's record of strong, decisive leadership is exactly what's needed at the VA to ensure our veterans receive the benefits they deserve.

2. Sadie Weiner:

   As a potential shutdown creeps closer, we will see if Sen. Toomey sticks with his votes to defund Planned Parenthood or if he is so scared about his re-election that he flip-flops in a panic, these ads will highlight that Sen. Toomey and extremists in Congress are playing a dangerous game, and Pennsylvania families deserve better.

3. Loren Carter:

   It's unfair, he didn't deserve to die.

4. Cathi Herrod:

   It doesn’t stop those topics from being addressed, but again when we talk sex education, when we talk parental notification, parents deserve the opportunity to make that decision to opt their students in to classroom discussion.

5. Marquetta Williams:

   My husband was a good man, and he didn’t deserve to die this way, i just want justice for him.

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