server

noun

serv·​er ˈsər-vər 

1

: one that serves food or drink

2

: the player who serves (as in tennis)

3

: something used in serving food or drink

4

: one that serves legal processes upon another

5

: the celebrant's assistant at mass

6

: a computer in a network that is used to provide services (such as access to files or shared peripherals or the routing of email) to other computers in the network

Synonyms of server

• waiter
• waitress

Examples of server in a Sentence

She asked our server for another glass of wine.

we had barely finished ordering when the server brought our salads

Recent Examples on the Web

Data centers are warehouse-like facilities housing computer servers and components essential for storing, processing and disseminating large amounts of data. —Adam Bell, Charlotte Observer, 3 Feb. 2026

Buzbee was a passionate broadcast journalism student and a beloved server at a local restaurant. —Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 3 Feb. 2026

The research, conducted by teams from IMDEA Networks Institute and European universities, showed that certain apps and services continued communicating with external servers even after users attempted to limit tracking. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Feb. 2026

When a pompous male customer refused to be waited on by a female server, Bass quietly approached the table. —Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 1 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English server, servere, from serven "to serve entry 1" + -er, -ere -er entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing server

• ad server
• altar server
• blade server

Rhymes for server

• fervor
• fervour
• observer
• preserver

Kids Definition

server

noun

serv·​er ˈsər-vər 

1

: a person who serves food or drink

2

: the player who puts a ball in play

3

: something (as a tray) used in serving food or drink

4

: a computer in a network that is used to provide services (as access to files or the delivery of email) to other computers