serves

present tense third-person singular of serve
1
as in works (for)
to be a servant for he served his master faithfully for 20 years

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

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3
as in does
to be fitting or proper those old riding boots will serve for now, but you'll need newer ones for the horse show

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4
5
as in acts
to have a certain purpose the harsh punishment served to teach everyone a lesson

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6
as in benefits
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

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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 serves Each one serves the surrounding community, and each one adds to the state's emergency-response capacity. John Ramos, CBS News, 30 June 2026 The Chicago Jewish Day School, a multi-denominational school that serves junior kindergarten through eighth grade, also reported rising enrollment, from 220 students in the 2024-2024 school year to 254 for the coming year. Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 29 June 2026 This sophisticated system prevents metabolically expensive and functionally counterproductive perpetual growth, ensuring hair serves specific protective and insulating roles. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 Shuman, who serves as showrunner, executive produces alongside Hermanus as well as Michael Ellenberg, Christina Malach and Lindsey Springer for Media Res, Aciman and Monica Levinson. Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 29 June 2026 When trying to rebook, they were told there were no more British Airways flights to Dalaman, which serves as a gateway to some of Turkey's most popular beach resorts, for three days. Adam England, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026 Drawing upon the fine dining experience of both Chef Gabon and partner Celine Wuu (who deftly manages the floor), Naides serves an original interpretation of Filipino cuisine in the form of a stylishly modern tasting menu. Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 25 June 2026 For all their confidence that progressive Christianity won’t play in red states, however, Warnock serves as a powerful counterpoint. David Weigel, semafor.com, 24 June 2026 Part of that creative control was creating a 13-track LP that serves as a soundtrack to his life and interpolates viral Internet videos, pop-culture classics, and soulful collaborators. Adelle Platon, VIBE.com, 24 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for serves
Verb
  • Jeff Bezos attends the Viva Technology show at Parc des Expositions on June 17, 2026 in Paris, France.
    Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 2 July 2026
  • Lancôme global ambassador Zoe Saldaña attends the brand's exclusive lunch celebrating Absolue Longevity MD in London on June 28.
    Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • But why buy brand new items when an old pillowcase suffices?
    Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 14 May 2026
  • That rationale for military power no longer suffices.
    Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 11 May 2026
Verb
  • Mark Thompson does the costume and scenic design, with lighting by Howard Harrison.
    R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
  • The Pitt does this quite literally and very well.
    Jen Chaney, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • Supported by a gifted cast that includes Palestinian filmmaker Mohammad Bakri as a PLO commander, Riklis treats both sides with an equal amount of humanity and respect.
    Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 26 June 2026
  • Ciba treats them not as sweet peripheral matter, but as records of reading under pressure.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • Jay Ravitz acts as a disruptor, embracing ambiguity and questioning the status quo to accelerate innovation.
    Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Caffeine acts as a diuretic that pushes fluids out and raises body temperature.
    Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • That competitive environment ultimately benefits Ethiopia far more than exclusive dependence upon any individual partner.
    Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Tips to Make Your Trimmer Line Last Longer Keeping your line in good shape not only benefits your landscape but also extends the longevity of your weed whacker.
    Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • Every July 4, the communications center in Rancho Cordova handles its highest call volume.
    Andrew Graham July 3, Sacbee.com, 3 July 2026
  • Oman has said that any agreement will comply with international law, although the prospect of a financial system on a waterway that typically handles around 20% of the world's oil has sparked alarm.
    Sam Meredith, CNBC, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • In other words, a tokenized security still functions economically as a security, and should be treated as such.
    Sean Stein Smith, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Goaltending, however, functions a bit differently due to the involvement of longtime Canucks goaltending coach, former director of goaltending and current goaltending scout Ian Clark.
    Thomas Drance, New York Times, 28 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Serves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/serves. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.

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