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Definition of deserve verb from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

  

deserve

 verb
verb
NAmE//dɪˈzərv//
 
(not used in the progressive tenses)Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they deserve
 
he / she / it deserves
 
past simple deserved
 
 
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  •  if someone or something deserves something, it is right that they should have it, because of the way they have behaved or because of what they are deserve something You deserve a rest after all that hard work. The report deserves careful consideration. One player in particular deserves a mention. What have I done to deserve this? deserve to do something They didn't deserve to win. He deserves to be locked up forever for what he did. deserve doing something Several other points deserve mentioning.
    • Idioms
    somebody deserves a medal (informal)
     
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    used to say that you admire someone because they have done something difficult or unpleasant She deserves a medal for teaching those 5-year-olds all day!
    get what you deserve, deserve all/everything you get (informal)
     
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    used to say that you think someone has earned the bad things that happen to them
    one good turn deserves another (saying)
     
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    you should help someone who has helped you
    See deserve in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
    Check pronunciation: deserve

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