Serving
/ˈsɜːrvɪŋ/
Definitions
4 meaningsTo provide someone with food or drink, typically as part of a meal or a function.
/ˈsɜːrvɪŋ/
To provide food or drink.
The waiter is serving the customers their meals.
💡 Simply: Like when you give someone a plate of yummy food at dinner or a party. You're *serving* them!
👶 For kids: Giving someone food to eat or drink.
More Examples
She enjoys serving her guests at dinner parties.
The volunteers are serving refreshments at the event.
How It's Used
"The restaurant staff is serving customers."
"She is serving dinner to her family."
To perform duties or provide services for someone or something.
/ˈsɜːrvɪŋ/
To provide a service or fulfill a duty.
The doctor is dedicated to serving his patients.
💡 Simply: It's like helping someone out with what they need, like a doctor helping patients or a soldier protecting people. That's *serving*.
👶 For kids: To help people or do a job for them.
More Examples
He served his country with honor and distinction.
The company is committed to serving the needs of its customers.
How It's Used
"The lawyer is serving his clients."
"He served in the military for five years."
An amount of food or drink for one person.
/ˈsɜːrvɪŋ/
An individual portion of food or drink.
A serving of vegetables is part of a balanced diet.
💡 Simply: It's how much food you get at one time, like one slice of pizza or a scoop of ice cream. That's a *serving*!
👶 For kids: How much food you eat at one time.
More Examples
The recipe recommends a serving size of 1 cup.
The package indicates the number of servings per container.
How It's Used
"A serving of fruit is recommended daily."
"The restaurant offers generous servings of pasta."
The action of delivering the ball to start play in games like tennis or volleyball.
/ˈsɜːrvɪŋ/
The act of serving (in sports like tennis)
His serving skills helped him win the match.
💡 Simply: In sports, the part where you start the game by hitting the ball, like in tennis or volleyball. That's the *serving*!
👶 For kids: The way you start the game by hitting the ball in some sports.
More Examples
The serving in tennis requires good technique.
A strong serving can give a team a competitive advantage.
How It's Used
"The tennis player's serving was strong."
"She made a fault on her first serving."
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."
serve as
To have the role or function of something.
"The former military officer served as an advisor to the President."
serve time
To be imprisoned.
"He was sentenced to serve time for his crime."
From Middle English servynge, present participle of serven (“to serve”), from Old English servi(a)n (“to serve”), from Proto-Germanic *servōną (“to serve”), from Proto-Indo-European *ser- (“to protect, preserve”).
The word 'serving' has been used in various contexts for centuries, originally referring to providing service.
Memory tip
Imagine a waiter carrying plates of food. That's serving!
Word Origin
"to give service or assistance"