serve
gb/sˈɚv/ us/sˈɚv/
A2
Английски
~ 700
Значения
0 значения
Глагол
A2
action
1
Give food or drink to someone
To give food or drink to someone.
Модел на употреба:
to serve [someone] [something]
Честа грешка:
Learners sometimes confuse 'serve' with 'cook'; 'serve' means to give the prepared food, not to make it.
Синоними
offer (More general; can apply to anything, not just food or drink.)
Антоними
withhold (Refuse to give something, such as food or drink.)
Колокации
serve dinner
|serve drinks
|serve a meal
|serve customers
Теми
daily life
|hospitality
|food_drink
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Примери
- The waiter served us our meals quickly.
- They serve breakfast until 10 a.m.
- She served coffee to her guests after dinner.
Примери за учащи
- The man served me soup.
- She serves tea in the morning.
- They serve lunch at noon.
Глагол
B1
action
2
Work for or help someone
To work for and help a person or group.
Модел на употреба:
to serve [a person/an organization]
Честа грешка:
Learners may confuse 'serve' with 'work'; 'serve' often implies duty, loyalty, or official role.
Синоними
assist (Focuses on helping rather than formal duty.)
Антоними
neglect (Fail to fulfill duties toward someone or something.)
Колокации
serve the public
|serve in the army
|serve a company
Теми
work
|government
|business
|core_vocabulary
Примери
- She served as secretary for five years.
- He served his country during the war.
- The lawyer has served many clients over the years.
Примери за учащи
- He serves in the army.
- She serves the company well.
- They serve the people of this town.
Глагол
B2
action
3
Spend time completing duty or sentence
To spend a set time doing a job or being in prison.
Модел на употреба:
to serve [a sentence/a term]
Честа грешка:
Learners might confuse 'serve time' with 'spend time'; in legal context, 'serve' is specific to fulfilling a sentence.
Синоними
fulfill (More general; to carry out an obligation, not necessarily time-based.)
Антоними
evade (Avoid serving time or duty.)
Колокации
serve a sentence
|serve time in prison
|serve a term
Теми
law
|work
|core_vocabulary
Примери
- He served ten years in prison.
- She served two terms as mayor.
- They served their apprenticeship before becoming full members.
Примери за учащи
- He served five years in jail.
- She served one year as president.
- They served their time and left.
Глагол
A2
action
4
Hit or throw ball to start play
To send the ball into play at the start of a point in a sport.
Модел на употреба:
to serve [the ball]
Честа грешка:
Learners sometimes confuse 'serve' with 'hit'; 'serve' is specifically the action that starts play.
Синоними
deliver (In sports, refers generally to sending the ball into play.)
Антоними
receive (To be on the receiving end of a serve.)
Колокации
serve an ace
|serve the ball
|serve into the net
Теми
sports
|core_vocabulary
Примери
- She served an ace to win the game.
- He served the ball over the net with great speed.
- It's your turn to serve.
Примери за учащи
- She serves the ball fast.
- It is my turn to serve.
- He serves into the net.
Глагол
B1
state
5
Be used for a purpose
To be used for something.
Модел на употреба:
to serve as [something]
Честа грешка:
Learners may overuse 'is' instead of 'serve as' when describing function.
Синоними
function (Focuses on performing a role or purpose.)
Антоними
fail (Not fulfill the intended purpose.)
Колокации
serve as an example
|serve a purpose
|serve as a reminder
Теми
general
|core_vocabulary
Примери
- This incident serves as a warning to others.
- The sofa also serves as a bed.
- Her story serves as an inspiration.
Примери за учащи
- This photo serves as a memory.
- The box serves as a table.
- Water serves many purposes.
Граматика
Речникова форма
serve
IPA
GB/sˈɚv/
US/sˈɚv/
Срички и ударение
serve (1 сричка)
Stress on 1st syllable (serve)
Форми на думата
Verb
- Base: serve
- 3rd Person Singular: serves
- Present Participle: serving
- Past: served
Семейство думи
Forms
serves
verb
serving
verb
served
verb
Related words
servant
noun A2
Negative and opposite forms
disservice
noun
Advanced or less common
serviceable
adjective B2
servitude
noun C1
Изрази
serve notice
1/sˈɚv nˈoʊtɪs/
fixed phrase
formal
Formally inform someone officially
To officially tell someone something, often about ending an agreement or starting legal action.
Примери
- The landlord served notice to vacate the apartment.
- They served notice of their intention to strike.
serve out one's term
1/sˈɚv ˈaʊt wˈʌnz tˈɚm/
fixed phrase
Complete full period before leaving role/sentence
To finish all the time you are supposed to spend in a job, office, or prison before leaving it.
Примери
- The president served out his term despite criticism.
- She served out her sentence and was released.
serve time
1/sˈɚv tˈaɪm/
fixed phrase
Spend time in prison as punishment
To be in prison for a set period as punishment for a crime.
Примери
- He served time for robbery.
- Many criminals serve time before returning to society.
serve up
1/sˈɚv ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
Present food or something else for use/enjoyment
To give food or something else to people so they can eat, use, or enjoy it.
Примери
- They served up a delicious meal.
- The show serves up plenty of laughs.
serve someone right
1/sˈɚv sˈʌmwˌʌn ɹˈaɪt/
idiom
informal
Be deservedly punished or harmed
To mean that someone got what they deserved because of their actions.
Примери
- It serves him right for lying.
- If she failed the test, it serves her right; she never studied.
serve someone right
2/sˈɚv sˈʌmwˌʌn ɹˈaɪt/
idiom
informal
deserved punishment for actions
Used when something bad happens to someone because they deserve it for what they did.
Примери
- It serves him right for lying.
- If she failed, it serves her right after all that cheating.