Definition of Serve
The word serve is a versatile verb with multiple meanings including to perform duties, provide a service, offer food or drink, and be of use. As a noun, it refers to an act of hitting the ball to start play in sports like tennis and volleyball.
Synonyms of Serve
Strongest Matches
- Provide: To give something to someone.
- Deliver: To bring and hand over.
- Offer: To present for acceptance.
- Present: To bring, offer, or give something formally.
- Assist: To help or aid.
Strong Matches
- Supply: To make available for use.
- Furnish: To provide with what is necessary.
- Dispense: To distribute or provide.
- Cater: To provide food and drink.
- Render: To provide or give.
Weak Matches
- Wait on: To serve someone, especially at a table.
- Minister: To attend to the needs.
- Help: To assist or aid.
- Administer: To manage or execute.
Example Sentences with Serve
- She will serve as the chairperson of the committee.
- Can you please serve the guests their meals?
- His primary duty is to serve the community.
- He made an excellent serve during the match.
Contextual Usage of Serve
- Hospitality: The waiter will serve your food shortly.
- Sports: She practiced her tennis serve for hours.
- Military: He served in the army for five years.
- Business: The company aims to serve its customers efficiently.
- Legal: The court papers were served to the defendant.
Related Words
- Service: The action of helping or doing work for someone.
- Server: A person or thing that serves.
- Serving: The act of providing or offering.
- Servitude: The state of being a slave or subject to someone.
- Subserve: To be useful or helpful.
Additional Relevant Information
- Etymology: Originates from the Old French word ‘servir’, derived from the Latin ‘servire’ meaning ‘to be a servant’.
- Collocations: serve food, serve time, serve a purpose, serve the community.
- Idioms: “Serve someone right” (to deserve punishment), “Serve your time” (to complete a prison sentence).
- Trending Usage: Increasingly used in digital contexts such as servers delivering data and services in cloud computing.
Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only and is designed to enhance understanding of the word ‘serve’. It does not constitute professional advice or an exhaustive linguistic resource.
