deserve

verb

de·​serve di-ˈzərv 

deserved; deserving

transitive verb

: to be worthy of : merit

deserves a medal

doesn't deserve a second chance

The idea deserves consideration.

They deserve to be punished.

intransitive verb

: to be worthy, fit, or suitable for some reward or requital

… have become recognized as they deserve.

—T. S. Eliot

a worse punishment than he deserved

deserver noun

Synonyms of deserve

• earn

Examples of deserve in a Sentence

the team really deserved that victory after the way they played

Recent Examples on the Web

These, these women deserve to be heard. —Lesley Stahl, CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025

All Vest proves that this outerwear style deserves a spot in your suitcase. —Michelle Tchea, Travel + Leisure, 7 Dec. 2025

Earlier this week, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman suggested a few deserving teams will likely be kept out of the playoff and called for the format to be expanded to 16 teams. —Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025

Duke deserves every bit of Saturday night’s celebration, which was a wild one. —Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 7 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English deserven, disserven "to be worthy of, attain what one deserves," borrowed from Anglo-French deservir, desservir, deserver "to deserve, merit, earn, be entitled to" (also continental Old & Middle French), going back to Medieval Latin dēservīre "to serve, officiate (at mass), hold land by service, earn, deserve," going back to Latin, "to spend one's time in, devote oneself (to pursuits, interests), be submissive to, comply with," from dē- de- + servīre "to perform duties for (a master) in the capacity of a slave, act in subservience, be at the service of" — more at serve entry 1

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing deserve

• deserve a medal

Rhymes for deserve

• conserve
• manoeuvre
• observe
• preserve
• reserve
• subserve
• curve
• mirv
• nerve
• serve
• swerve
• verve

Kids Definition

deserve

verb

de·​serve di-ˈzərv 

deserved; deserving

: to be worthy of : merit

deserves another chance