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View synonyms for

deserve

[ dih-zurv ]

verb (used with object)

deserved, deserving.
  1. to merit, be qualified for, or have a claim to (reward, assistance, punishment, etc.) because of actions, qualities, or situation:

    to deserve exile; to deserve charity; a theory that deserves consideration.

    Synonyms: , ,



verb (used without object)

deserved, deserving.
  1. to be worthy of, qualified for, or have a claim to reward, punishment, recompense, etc.:

    to reward him as he deserves; an idea deserving of study.

deserve

/ dɪˈzɜːvɪdnɪs; dɪˈzɜːv /

verb

  1. tr to be entitled to or worthy of; merit
  2. obsolete.
    intrfoll byof to be worthy
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • deservedness, noun
  • ˈ, noun
  • ˈ, adjective
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Other Word Forms

  • ·İ noun
  • d· verb (used with object) predeserved predeserving
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Word History and Origins

Origin of deserve1

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English deserven, from Anglo-French, Old French deservir, from Latin ŧī “to devote oneself to the service of,” equivalent to ŧ- de- + ī “to serve” ( serve )
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Word History and Origins

Origin of deserve1

C13: from Old French deservir, from Latin ŧī to serve devotedly, from de- + ī to serve
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Idioms and Phrases

see one good turn deserves another .
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Joe wasn’t Dexter Morgan, trying to sate his violent impulses by targeting people who deserved to die.

From

That I had to shrink, impress or overachieve to deserve it.

From

"This deeply political appointment calls into question the regulator's ability to operate with the impartiality fans deserve," he added.

From

Emery deserves a bit of silverware to reflect the excellent job he has done but we know football doesn't work like that.

From

That’s what got me thinking, is he getting what he deserves, given what he says?

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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desert varnishdeserved