serve

verb

ˈsərv How to pronounce serve (audio)
Definition of servenext
1
as in to attend
to be a servant for he served his master faithfully for 20 years

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to suffice
to be enough they made the pasta serve for eight guests

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
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
4
as in to treat
to behave toward in a stated way my parents served me well in preparing me for life

Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in to act
to have a certain purpose the harsh punishment served to teach everyone a lesson

Synonyms & Similar Words
6
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 Recovered silica contributes to cement manufacture, while fibers and blade sections serve as reinforcement in concrete. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026 Kisbye most recently served as Senior Manager of Creative Development in MGM’s TV Scripted group. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026 The series will be written by Sonja Tarokić and Valentina Batalić, with Maja Fišter serving as the commissioning editor for HRT. — Marta Balaga, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026 Current Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara cannot seek another term after serving two terms. — Kenny Choi, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for serve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for serve
  1. attend
  2. suffice
  3. do
  4. treat
  5. act
  6. benefit
  7. fit
  8. handle
Verb
  • Recurring nightmares Juana Rodriguez attended the festival with her three-year-old son.
    — Philip Wang, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Kaylub Giamanco, whose children attend the school, had earlier seen the shooter open fire on a man who verbally confronted the suspect outside the school.
    — Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of attend
Verb
  • Will movie nights and electric go-kart tracks suffice to keep CWG’s buildings full if, as some predict, AI renders large numbers of office jobs redundant?
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2026
  • An unlined park next to the school, which also includes a splash pad and a playground, has to suffice.
    — Mike McGraw, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of suffice
Verb
  • PhotoTat can have additional practical applications, including for medical tattoos like those done on cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy.
    — Devika Rao, TheWeek, 19 Oct. 2026
  • OpenAI has reportedly floated the idea of giving the government up to a 5% stake in the company and suggested other leading AI companies do the same.
    — Sarah Cannon, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of do
Verb
  • Rather than relying solely on conventional T cells, future treatments may be able to exploit gamma delta T cells to expose a vulnerability in a cancer that has proved exceptionally difficult to treat.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The hospital in question denied that Talarico had ever been treated there.
    — Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of treat
Verb
  • The American Civil Liberties Union sued in February, alleging officers hurled racial epithets, acted violently, and largely withheld food, water, bathrooms and medical care.
    — Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Documents detailing meetings in April and August between the government, the WHO and other health partners, reviewed by Reuters and not previously reported, show how efforts to act fast may have led to shortcomings.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of act
Verb
  • Rather than a direct cash transfer, this is investing in more Americans benefiting from our country’s innovation prowess.
    — Sarah Cannon, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • And those striving for zest under these circumstances may benefit from assistance from a mental health professional like a psychologist, a physical health provider like a physician, or a personal trainer or fitness instructor.
    — Joan M. Cook, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of benefit
Verb
  • Holden’s ear for beats has steadily improved to fit his breakneck delivery since 2022, peaking with 2025’s Mulberry Silk Road, which was primarily laced by German producer 2000 Souls and executive-produced by Marciano.
    — Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Surely this fits McCutcheon’s criteria of adding names for doing significant things future generations should remember, since this donation reopened the monument after its public closure.
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of fit
Verb
  • Tippett’s team animated physical puppets, while ILM handled compositing and digital fire, smoke and explosions.
    — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Needless to say, the system has to be robust enough to handle battlefield conditions, including electronic warfare and communications blackouts.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of handle

Browse Nearby Words

servants
serve
served
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Cite this Entry

“Serve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/serve. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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