deserve Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb be worthy or deserving
    merit.
    • You deserve a promotion after all the hard work you have done

WordNet

De*serve" transitive verb
Etymology
OF. deservir, desservir, to merit, L. deservire to serve zealously, be devoted to; de- + servire to serve. See Serve.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Deserved ; present participle & verbal noun Deserving
Definitions
  1. To earn by service; to be worthy of (something due, either good or evil); to merit; to be entitled to; as, the laborer deserves his wages; a work of value deserves praise.
    God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth. Job xi. 6.
    John Gay deserved to be a favorite. Thackeray.
    Encouragement is not held out to things that deserve reprehension. Burke.
  2. To serve; to treat; to benefit. Obs.
    A man that hath So well deserved me. Massinger.
De*serve" intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To be worthy of recompense; -- usually with ill or with well.
    One man may merit or deserve of another. South.

Webster 1913