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

Losing Evans, linebacker Lavonte David and cornerback Jamel Dean hurts, but the Bucs deserve the benefit of the doubt until someone else in this division proves something. —Josh Kendall, New York Times, 15 May 2026

Californians deserve an insurance commissioner dedicated to making insurance affordable and available for all Californians, not to increasing profits for this $1 trillion industry. —Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, Mercury News, 15 May 2026

For payer leadership teams weighing where to direct their operational investment, provider data consolidation deserves a position near the top of the priority list. —Tammy Hawes, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026

The third component of the package, changes to term limits, deserves its own focused debate. —Luisa Veltmann, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 May 2026

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