serve

1
as in to attend
to be a servant for he served his master faithfully for 20 years

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

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3
as in to do
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
as in to treat
to behave toward in a stated way my parents served me well in preparing me for life

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

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6
as in to benefit
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 serve Grasslands, like those that dominate the eastern plains of Colorado, provide important habitat for wildlife and serve as a critical food source for livestock. Matthew Sturchio, The Conversation, 30 May 2025 After the crime While serving her sentence, Maje became pregnant by another inmate. Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 30 May 2025 The sales tax measure would be limited to areas served by MTS, so North County communities would be excluded because they are served by the North County Transit District. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2025 Sail-away parties are often held when departing destinations, like a variety of personal pizzas being served while leaving Naples, Italy. Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 19 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for serve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for serve
Verb
  • The 64-year-old director, who last attended the festival in person in 2003, addressed his prize to all Iranians, saying the most important thing was Iran and the country's freedom.
    Miranda Murray, USA Today, 26 May 2025
  • Some wore the jerseys of forwards Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin, who attended college at the University of Dayton.
    Michael Marot, Chicago Tribune, 26 May 2025
Verb
  • For ages 3-6—after which kids can typically rinse with water and spit out the paste—a slightly larger pea-sized dollop suffices.
    Matt Fuchs, Time, 14 May 2025
  • Outdated telemedicine laws in 10 states further limit care, requiring audio or video visits even when asynchronous consultations would suffice.
    Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • Those looking to secure a board now can do so for early bird rates.
    Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 23 May 2025
  • If sinister twists or Roy-style bad dads do it for you, hang on past the hour mark.
    Judy Berman, Time, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • All six victims are still being treated, with one listed was seriously injured while the others received more minor injuries, according to police.
    Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 June 2025
  • The Trump administration and the European Union are fast-tracking discussions toward a trade deal, but America’s right sometimes treats the bloc as more foe than friend.
    Adam Goldman Jeanna Smialek Ameera Harouda Miriam Jordan, New York Times, 2 June 2025
Verb
  • These tools act as governance sentinels, standing guard at the frontier of change.
    Shazia Manus, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
  • Skarsgård has been acting since 1968, and in that time has seen the industry reshape itself around streaming, franchises, and finance.
    Andy Hazel, IndieWire, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • Ernst defended the bill, arguing that those eliminated from these programs would be people who were not eligible to benefit from them in the first place.
    Alana Wise, NPR, 31 May 2025
  • While more than 90% of individuals would benefit from delaying Social Security until that age, only about 10% actually do, according to a 2023 paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research.
    Lorie Konish, CNBC, 31 May 2025
Verb
  • Then, scroll down for more beach essentials at Amazon, all of which will fit perfectly into your new wagon.
    Izzy Baskette, People.com, 2 June 2025
  • The most likely fits Carolina Hurricanes No contending team will have a bigger need for a star offensive player and as much cap space as the Hurricanes, who figure to be aggressive this July 1 given another disappointing exit.
    James Mirtle, New York Times, 2 June 2025
Verb
  • Intelligent chatbots and virtual assistants can handle many customer queries, freeing up human agents for more complex interactions.
    Ivan Ostojić, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
  • Steve Klein, who has been executive director of the Cedar Cove Feline Conservatory & Education Center in Louisburg, Kansas for over a decade, has encountered numerous cases where owners were unprepared or ill-equipped to handle exotic animals.
    J.M. Banks, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Serve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/serve. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

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