Deserve

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /dɪˈzɜː(ɹ)v/
• US IPA: /dɪˈzəɹv/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(r)v

Origin

From Old French deservir, from Latin dēservīre, from de- + servīre.

Full definition of deserve

Verb

1. To be entitled to, as a result of past actions; to be worthy to have.After playing so well, the team really deserved their win.After what he did, he deserved to go to prison.This argument deserves a closer examination.
• Bible, Job xi. 6God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.
• ThackerayJohn Gay deserved to be a favourite.
2. (obsolete) To earn, win.
• 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, III.vii:That gentle Lady, whom I loue and serue,
  After long suit and weary seruicis,
  Did aske me, how I could her loue deserue,
  And how she might be sure, that I would neuer swerue.
3. (obsolete) To reward, to give in return for service.
• 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book VIII:‘Grauntemercy,’ seyde the Kynge. ‘And I lyve, Sir Lambegus, I shall deserve hit.’
4. (obsolete) To serve; to treat; to benefit.
• MassingerA man that hath
  So well deserved me.

Synonyms

• merit

Usage notes

This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive. See

Related terms

• desert
• serve somebody right

Anagrams

• severed