serve
verb/sɜːv/
/sɜːrv/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they serve | /sɜːv/ /sɜːrv/ |
| he / she / it serves | /sɜːvz/ /sɜːrvz/ |
| past simple served | /sɜːvd/ /sɜːrvd/ |
| past participle served | /sɜːvd/ /sɜːrvd/ |
| -ing form serving | /ˈsɜːvɪŋ/ /ˈsɜːrvɪŋ/ |
- [transitive, intransitive] to give somebody food or drink, for example at a restaurant or during a meal
- serve (something) Breakfast is served between 7 and 10 a.m.
- When do you stop serving hot food?
- Pour the sauce over the pasta and serve immediately.
- Shall I serve?
- serve something with something Serve the lamb with new potatoes and green beans.
- serve something to somebody They served a wonderful meal to more than fifty delegates.
- serve somebody with something The delegates were served with a wonderful meal.
- serve somebody something She served us a delicious lunch.
- serve something + adj. The quiche can be served hot or cold.
Extra ExamplesTopics Cooking and eatinga2- Cover and chill the salad until ready to serve.
- Serve chilled.
- Serve with rice or potatoes.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- immediately
- be ready to
- to
- with
- dinner is served
- serve something chilled
- serve something cold
- …
Definitions on the go
Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
- [transitive] serve somebody/something (of an amount of food) to be enough for somebody/something
- This dish will serve four hungry people.
- [transitive, intransitive] serve (somebody) (especially British English) to help a customer or sell them something in a shop
- Are you being served?
- The bar staff spend more time chatting to friends than serving customers.
- She was serving behind the counter.
- [transitive] serve something/somebody to be useful to somebody in achieving or satisfying something
- These experiments serve no useful purpose.
- Most of their economic policies serve the interests of big business.
- How can we best serve the needs of future generations?
- Art serves an important function in our society.
- His linguistic ability served him well in his chosen profession.
- This old car has served me very well.
- The story would be better served by slowing down a little.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- merely
- only
- simply
- …
- as
- [transitive] to provide an area or a group of people with a product or service
- serve somebody/something The centre will serve the whole community.
- serve somebody/something with something The town is well served with buses and major road links.
- [intransitive, transitive] to work or perform duties for a person, an organization, a country, etc.; to spend a period of time in a particular job
- serve as something He served as a captain in the army.
- She was elected to serve as secretary of the local party.
- to serve as president/director/chairman
- serve under/with somebody He served in the White House under Joe Biden.
- serve + adv./prep. She served in the medical corps.
- His father served with distinction in the First World War.
- serve somebody/something He proudly served his country during the war.
- I wanted to work somewhere where I could serve the community.
- She has already served two terms as mayor.
- He served a one-year apprenticeship.
- He served the family faithfully for many years (= as a servant).
Extra Examples- Have you ever served on a jury?
- I currently serve on the Board of Directors.
- He served on active duty in the US Marine Corps.
- He served with distinction in the First World War.
- She served in the US military for six years.
- I shall continue to serve as a trustee.
- She has served in an advisory capacity for a number of groups.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- faithfully
- loyally
- well
- …
- continue to
- as
- in
- on
- …
- if memory serves you
- if memory serves (you) correctly
- if memory serves you right
- …
- [intransitive] serve (as something) to be suitable for a particular use, especially when nothing else is available
- The sofa will serve as a bed for a night or two.
Extra Examples- The Declaration served primarily as a propaganda piece.
- The texts ultimately serve as springboards for the artists' imagination.
- The first chapter serves as a useful introduction to the subject.
- [intransitive, transitive] to have a particular effect or result
- serve as something The judge said the punishment would serve as a warning to others.
- The highly visible ruins serve as a reminder of the building's history.
- There are several women in the field who have served as role models.
- serve to do something The attack was unsuccessful and served only to alert the enemy.
- This only served to complicate the situation further.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- merely
- only
- simply
- …
- as
- [transitive] serve something to spend a period of time in prison
- prisoners serving life sentences
- She is serving two years for theft.
- He has served time (= been to prison) before.
- [transitive] (law) to give or send somebody an official document, especially one that orders them to appear in court
- serve something (on somebody) to serve a writ/summons on somebody
- serve somebody with something to serve somebody with a writ/summons
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- immediately
- be ready to
- to
- with
- dinner is served
- serve something chilled
- serve something cold
- …
- [intransitive, transitive] (in tennis, etc.) to start playing by throwing the ball into the air and hitting it
- Who's serving?
- serve something She served an ace.
food/drink
customers
be useful
provide something
work
be suitable
have particular result
time in prison
official document
in sport
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French servir, from Latin servire, from servus ‘slave’.
Idioms
See serve in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee serve in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishdo/pull/serve double duty (as something)
- to perform two roles or functions at the same time
- This device can pull double duty as a decent laptop and an adequate tablet.
- She deserves credit for serving double duty as a host and performer.
first come, first served
- (saying) people will be dealt with, seen, etc. strictly in the order in which they arrive
- Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis.
if (my) memory serves me well, correctly, etc.
- if I remember correctly
it serves somebody right (for doing something)
- used to say that something that has happened to somebody is their own fault and they deserve it
- Left you, did she? It serves you right for being so selfish.
serve your/its turn
- (British English) to be useful for a particular purpose or period of time
serve two masters
- (usually used in negative sentences) to support two different parties, principles, etc. at the same time
Check pronunciation:
serve