serve
surv
Serve (verb) means to provide help, food, or a service to someone. Example: “Our small cafe serves hot soup to anyone who comes in from the cold.”
verb
1
To provide help, food, or a service to someone.
"Our small cafe serves hot soup to anyone who comes in from the cold."
"The waiter served our food quickly."
"She has served this community for over twenty years."
2
To be useful or suitable for a particular purpose.
"A flat stone can serve as a doorstop on windy days."
"This old box can serve as a table."
"A rolled-up towel can serve as a pillow in a pinch."
3
To officially deliver a legal document to someone.
"The bailiff came to the house to serve a notice on the tenant."
"A court official served him with the divorce papers."
"She was served a subpoena at her workplace."
4
To hit the ball first to start play in tennis, volleyball, and similar sports.
"It's your turn to serve, so toss the ball up high."
"He double faulted when he tried to serve too hard."
"She served an ace to win the match."
noun
1
The act of putting the ball in play at the start of a point in tennis or similar sports.
"Her second serve landed just inside the line."
"A powerful serve can give the player an early advantage in a rally."
"His serve was clocked at over 120 miles per hour."
How to use serve
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo help someone, provide something they need, or work for them — also the opening shot in racket sports.
Common pairings
serve a purpose
serve food
serve papers
serve the ball
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Word forms
- Plural
- serves
- Third person singular
- serves
- Past tense
- served
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Our small cafe _____ hot soup to anyone who comes in from the cold.
Etymology
From Old French servir, from Latin servire ("to serve"), related to servus ("slave; servant").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for serve
See all rhymes for serve →Frequently asked questions
What does “serve” mean?
The word “serve” means to provide help, food, or a service to someone. In plain terms, to help someone, provide something they need, or work for them — also the opening shot in racket sports.
How do you pronounce “serve”?
“Serve” is pronounced surv (/sɝv/ in IPA).
How do you use “serve” in a sentence?
Here is “serve” used in a sentence: “The waiter served our food quickly.”
What is another word for “serve”?
Words with a similar meaning to “serve” include attend, bestand, aid, wait on, attend to and await.
What is the opposite of “serve”?
The opposite of “serve” — its antonyms — are receive, govern, order and rule.
What part of speech is “serve”?
Depending on how it is used, “serve” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “serve” come from?
The word “serve” comes from Latin. From Old French servir, from Latin servire ("to serve"), related to servus ("slave; servant").
Is “serve” a common word?
“Serve” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between serve and service?
Serve is usually the verb, meaning to provide food, help, or a service, as in 'they serve lunch at noon'. Service is usually the noun, naming the help provided, as in 'the service was excellent'. Service can also work as a verb for maintaining machines, as in 'to service a car'.
What are the different meanings of serve?
Serve has several senses. It can mean to bring food or drink to someone, to help customers or the public, to work for an organisation such as the army, to spend time in a role or a sentence, and, in sport, to put the ball into play. Context shows which meaning applies.
What is an example of serve in a sentence?
You might say 'the waiter will serve your meal shortly', 'she chose to serve her community as a nurse', or 'he will serve first in the tennis match'. Each shows a different sense: providing food, giving help or duty, and putting the ball into play in a game.
Is serve a formal word?
Serve is neutral and fits both everyday and formal settings. It sounds ordinary in 'serve dinner' yet dignified in 'serve one's country'. Because it carries a sense of providing for others, it often appears in respectful or official language, but it is equally at home in casual conversation.
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