Served
/sɜːrvd/
Definitions
5 meaningsTo provide food or drink to someone.
/sɜːrvd/
To provide food or drink.
The chef served the guests a gourmet dinner.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're at a party and someone brings you a plate of yummy snacks. They are *serving* you snacks, making your day better! You can serve your friends too!
👶 For kids: When you give someone food or drinks, you are serving them!
More Examples
The flight attendant served refreshments on the plane.
The cafe serves coffee and pastries.
How It's Used
"The restaurant served a delicious three-course meal."
To work for or assist someone or something.
/sɜːrvd/
To work for or assist someone.
He served as a volunteer at the homeless shelter.
💡 Simply: Imagine you work to help someone or something, like helping your parents or the country. When you help, you are *serving*!
👶 For kids: When you help someone or something, you're serving!
More Examples
The lawyer served his client with diligence.
She served as a role model for younger students.
How It's Used
"She served as the company's CEO for ten years."
"He served in the army during the war."
To be used for a particular purpose or function.
/sɜːrvd/
To be used for a specific purpose.
The old church served as a community center.
💡 Simply: Imagine something that is used for a specific job. Like a spoon that *serves* the purpose of scooping soup! It helps us achieve our goal.
👶 For kids: When something is used for something, like your shoes serve the purpose of protecting your feet!
More Examples
The document served as proof of her identity.
The meeting served to finalize the project's budget.
How It's Used
"This building formerly served as a hospital."
To deliver the ball in games like tennis, volleyball, or badminton to start a point.
/sɜːrvd/
In sports, to start a point.
She served a fault in the first round.
💡 Simply: Imagine in a game like tennis or volleyball. To start the game, you hit the ball to your opponent, that is called *serving*!
👶 For kids: In games like tennis and volleyball, serving is when you hit the ball to start the game!
More Examples
He practiced his serve before the game.
The player served the ball over the net.
How It's Used
"He served a powerful ace in the tennis match."
To officially deliver a legal document to someone.
/sɜːrvd/
To present legal documents to someone.
The process server served the papers to the defendant at his home.
💡 Simply: Imagine a paper has to be officially delivered to someone. Like when someone is sent a letter of legal matter, that means they are being *served*!
👶 For kids: When someone gives you official papers for legal reasons, they are serving them to you.
More Examples
The lawyer served the complaint to the opposing party.
She was served with a notice of eviction.
How It's Used
"The sheriff served the defendant with a subpoena."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
serve someone right
To deserve a punishment or unpleasant situation.
"He lied and cheated, so it serves him right that he lost everything."
From Middle English *serven*, from Old French *servir*, from Latin *servīre* ('to serve, be a slave to'), from *servus* ('slave').
The word 'serve' has been used for centuries to describe the act of providing assistance, fulfilling a function, or supplying something.
Memory tip
Think of a waiter *serving* food to a customer.
Word Origin
"to serve, be a slave to"