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.

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

2. deserveverb

   To earn, win.

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

3. deserveverb

   To reward, to give in return for service.

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

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

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

2. Deserveverb

   to serve; to treat; to benefit

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

3. Deserveverb

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

   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

   Daniel

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

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. Linda Sarsour:

   I wish I could take their vaginas away - they don't deserve to be women.

2. Kendall Smith:

   My brothers don’t deserve this, my sister don’t deserve this, I don’t deserve this, she didn’t deserve that, i’m terribly angry about it. I don’t understand why anyone would want to do that to my mom… She always had a good heart, wanted the best for everybody.

3. Governor Andrew Cuomo:

   Ms. Turner’s death is a tragedy for her loved ones, and it raises questions ... questions that deserve answers.

4. Janice Dickinson:

   I hope the women get help from an expert that they deserve, and I hope that this can send a big message for women all over to get help immediately, go have a rape test if you get raped and seek proper justice immediately. Don't let it linger for seven years or else you'll have lost your spot in the statute of limitations.

5. Adolf Hitler, His 3rd Public Speech After taking Power.:

   Those who want to live, let them fight, and those who do not want to fight in this world of eternal struggle do not deserve to live.

Images & Illustrations of deserve

Popularity rank by frequency of use