deserve

verb

de·​serve di-ˈzərv 

deserved; deserving

transitive verb

: to be worthy of : merit

deserves another chance

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

• earn

Examples of deserve in a Sentence

the team really deserved that victory after the way they played

Recent Examples on the Web

While the defense certainly deserves a lot of the blame for the 0-3 start, the offense has visibly taken a step back. —Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2025

Although Americans mostly associate California with wine country, Texas deserves credit, Landon said. —Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 28 Sep. 2025

Though Curry got the stats in the box score, the Buckeyes’ coverage, including a spy — usually Arvell Reese — deserves just as much credit for limiting Washington’s offense. —Dane Brugler, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025

Temuera Morrison deserved better. —Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 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