SERVE Synonyms: 80 Similar and Opposite Words

serve

verb

ˈsərv

Definition of serve

as in to attend

to be a servant for he served his master faithfully for 20 years

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to suffice

to be enough they made the pasta serve for eight guests

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to do

to be fitting or proper those old riding boots will serve for now, but you'll need newer ones for the horse show

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to treat

to behave toward in a stated way my parents served me well in preparing me for life

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to act

to have a certain purpose the harsh punishment served to teach everyone a lesson

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to benefit

to provide with something useful or desirable an excellent college that served her with the skills necessary to make it in today's job market

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of serve Turner’s patron Hugh Andrew Johnstone Munro commissioned the painting, which later entered the collection of Archibald Primrose, the 5th Earl of Rosebery, who went on to serve as British prime minister. — ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026 Researchers have yet to identify a finished work for which the drawing might have served as a study. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 29 Sep. 2026 The deal requires Pusateri, of Nottingham, Maryland, to serve 10 years in prison, according to a statement by the State's Attorney Baltimore County. — Bryan Lynn, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026 Amblin Entertainment serves as producer alongside Roy Lee and Miri Yoon of Vertigo Entertainment. — Jack Dunn, Variety, 29 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for serve

Recent Examples of Synonyms for serve

Verb

The TikTok user who posted the video of Anderson suggested that the women had booked to attend eight performances.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his Bulgarian counterpart Rumen Radev attended a ceremony at Thessaloniki's Museum of Byzantine Civilization, where the remains were kept, before the handover.

— COSTAS KANTOURIS, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of attend

Verb

Until today, human scientists have been the agents responsible for discovering cancer cures, and for doing so they (and key associates) have been showered with academic credit and awards, perhaps even a Nobel Prize.

— Jeffrey S. Flier, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
In a game that looked lopsided for the better part of three quarters, the Chargers did enough Sunday to scare the defending Super Bowl champions.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of do

Verb

Several drugs in this class are approved to treat obesity in adolescents 12 and older, but none are currently approved for younger children.

— Babak J. Orandi, STAT, 1 Oct. 2026
For families As is customary in Bali, kids are treated like royalty by virtually all resort staff, and there is always someone ready with open arms to hold or play with them.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of treat

Verb

The cards built around it benefit from and push for a longer, more relaxed game.

— Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2026
In IconArrows pointing outwards While Berkshire is making a bet that Lennar will benefit from a long-term recovery in the nation's troubled housing market, Morgan Stanley is pessimistic about the stock's more immediate future.

— Alex Crippen, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of benefit

Verb

That’s because Bogart does not wear his roles like an off-the-rack suit, but tailors them to fit.

— Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Ford has a lot of vision systems using AI in the background, for instance, to help make decisions on things like dimensional control of a panel or whether doors fit correctly or not.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of fit

Verb

The size of the award points to a sustained requirement for interceptors capable of handling multiple threats.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
Licensing and brand consultancy Black White Orange (BWO) is handling fan engagement, consumer experiences and promotional activations, and Happening 365 Synergies is advising on strategy and the market.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of handle

Browse Nearby Words

servants

serve

served

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Serve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/serve. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of serve

verb

Example Sentences

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