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serve
/sɜrv/
to perform duties or provide assistance
She serves as the company's CEO.
She holds the position of CEO in the company.
formal
to perform duties or functions required by a role or position
He serves on the board of directors.
He is a member of the board of directors.
The committee serves the community by organizing events.
The committee provides assistance to the community through events.
Often used with 'as' to indicate a role or position.
general
to provide food or drinks to someone
The waiter will serve your drinks shortly.
The waiter will bring your drinks soon.
She served the guests tea and cake.
She offered tea and cake to the guests.
Commonly used in hospitality contexts.
general
to be useful or beneficial
This tool serves many purposes.
This tool is useful for many tasks.
Often used with 'to' to indicate a purpose.
general
to work for or be employed by someone
He served in the military for 20 years.
He was a member of the military for two decades.
Commonly used with 'in' to indicate an institution or organization.
general
to deliver or distribute something
The post office serves the entire city.
The post office delivers mail to all parts of the city.
Often used with 'to' to indicate a recipient.
Collocations
serve asto function in the role ofserve someone rightto be a fair punishment for someoneserve timeto spend time in prisonserve foodto provide meals
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Prepositions Matter
The preposition after 'serve' changes its meaning. 'Serve as' indicates a role, 'serve food' indicates providing meals, and 'serve in' indicates membership in an organization.
Gold Rule
Role vs. Action
Use 'serve as' for roles or positions (e.g., 'She serves as a manager'). Use 'serve' alone for actions like providing food or assistance.
Word Origin
From Old French 'servir', from Latin 'servire' (to serve, be a slave), from 'servus' (slave). Related to 'service' and 'servant'.
Usage Notes
The verb 'serve' can be used in both formal and informal contexts. In formal settings, it often refers to performing duties or roles, while in informal settings, it may refer to providing food or assistance. Pay attention to prepositions like 'as', 'in', 'to', and 'with' as they change the meaning.
Word Breakdown
serv-
to be a slave or servant
rootEnglish Dictionary