deserve
dih-ZURV
Deserve (verb) means to have earned or be entitled to something, whether good or bad, because of your past actions. Example: “She deserves a promotion after everything she has done for the company.”
verb
1
To have earned or be entitled to something, whether good or bad, because of your past actions.
"the grantees named in the questioned deed executed by their father richly deserved receiving the family home."
— The Pacific Reporter (1967)
"She deserves a promotion after everything she has done for the company."
"He deserves to be punished for what he did."
"Perhaps they do, but they don't deserve that the rest of us contribute money or appropriate public funds for the purchase of pictures and the construction of buildings."
— Michael Walzer, Spheres Of Justice: A Defense Of Pluralism And Equality (2008)
"After training so hard all year, the whole team deserves a proper rest."
How to use deserve
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo have earned something through your own actions, good or bad.
Common pairings
deserve credit
deserve better
deserve a break
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like deserve.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Third person singular
- deserves
- Past tense
- deserved
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She _____ a promotion after everything she has done for the company.
Etymology
From Old French deservir, from Latin deservire, "to serve zealously" — from de- + servire ("to serve").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for deserve
See all rhymes for deserve →Frequently asked questions
What does “deserve” mean?
The word “deserve” means to have earned or be entitled to something, whether good or bad, because of your past actions. In plain terms, to have earned something through your own actions, good or bad.
How do you pronounce “deserve”?
“Deserve” is pronounced dih-ZURV (/dɪˈzɝv/ in IPA).
How do you use “deserve” in a sentence?
Here is “deserve” used in a sentence: “She deserves a promotion after everything she has done for the company.”
What is another word for “deserve”?
Words with a similar meaning to “deserve” include merit, brook, earn, garner, reap and win.
What is the opposite of “deserve”?
The opposite of “deserve” — its antonyms — is undeserve.
What part of speech is “deserve”?
“Deserve” is a verb.
Where does the word “deserve” come from?
The word “deserve” comes from Latin. From Old French deservir, from Latin deservire, "to serve zealously" — from de- + servire ("to serve").
Is “deserve” a common word?
“Deserve” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between deserve and earn?
To earn something is to gain it through work or effort, like earning a salary. To deserve something is to be worthy of it because of what you have done or who you are, whether or not you actively worked for it. You can deserve praise, and you can also deserve blame.
Can you deserve something bad?
Yes. Although 'deserve' often refers to rewards, it applies equally to punishment and misfortune. Someone who cheats may deserve to be caught, and a bully may deserve to lose friends. The word simply means a consequence is fitting for a person's past actions, whether good or bad.
Is 'deserve' a positive or negative word?
'Deserve' is neutral on its own; its tone comes from what follows. 'You deserve a rest' is warm and positive, while 'he deserves to be punished' is negative. The word only states that an outcome is earned and fitting, and whether that outcome is pleasant depends on the context.
What is an example of deserve in a sentence?
You might say, 'After months of hard work, she deserves this promotion,' showing a reward that has been earned. Or, 'They got the punishment they deserved,' showing a fitting consequence. Both use 'deserve' to link a person's past actions to what fittingly comes to them.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include deserve:
