serve
gb/sˈɚv/ us/sˈɚv/
A2
English
~ 700
felszolgál, szolgál, ellát, letölt, betölt, szervál
VERB
A2
1
felszolgál
B1
Usage pattern:
to serve [someone] [something]
The waiter served us our meals quickly.
A pincér gyorsan felszolgálta az ételeinket.
They serve breakfast until 10 a.m.
Reggelit délelőtt 10 óráig szolgálnak fel.
She served coffee to her guests after dinner.
Learner examples
The man served me soup.
A férfi levest szolgált fel nekem.
She serves tea in the morning.
Reggelente teát szolgál fel.
They serve lunch at noon.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'serve' with 'cook'; 'serve' means to give the prepared food, not to make it.
Meaning
Give food or drink to someone
Collocations
serve dinner
|serve drinks
|serve a meal
|serve customers
Synonyms
offer (More general; can apply to anything, not just food or drink.)
Antonyms
withhold (Refuse to give something, such as food or drink.)
Themes
daily life
|hospitality
|food_drink
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To give food or drink to someone.
To present and give food or drink to someone for them to eat or drink.
VERB
B1
2
Usage pattern:
to serve [a person/an organization]
She served as secretary for five years.
Öt évig titkári feladatokat látott el.
He served his country during the war.
A háború alatt a hazáját szolgálta.
The lawyer has served many clients over the years.
Learner examples
He serves in the army.
A hadseregben szolgál.
She serves the company well.
Jól szolgálja a vállalatot.
They serve the people of this town.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'serve' with 'work'; 'serve' often implies duty, loyalty, or official role.
Meaning
Work for or help someone
Collocations
serve the public
|serve in the army
|serve a company
Synonyms
assist (Focuses on helping rather than formal duty.)
Antonyms
neglect (Fail to fulfill duties toward someone or something.)
Themes
work
|government
|business
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To work for and help a person or group.
To perform duties or services for a person, organization, or cause.
VERB
B2
3
Usage pattern:
to serve [a sentence/a term]
He served ten years in prison.
Tíz év börtönbüntetést töltött le.
She served two terms as mayor.
Két ciklust töltött le polgármesterként.
They served their apprenticeship before becoming full members.
Learner examples
He served five years in jail.
Öt év börtönbüntetést töltött le.
She served one year as president.
Egy évig töltötte be az elnöki tisztséget.
They served their time and left.
Common mistake:
Learners might confuse 'serve time' with 'spend time'; in legal context, 'serve' is specific to fulfilling a sentence.
Meaning
Spend time completing duty or sentence
Collocations
serve a sentence
|serve time in prison
|serve a term
Synonyms
fulfill (More general; to carry out an obligation, not necessarily time-based.)
Antonyms
evade (Avoid serving time or duty.)
Themes
law
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To spend a set time doing a job or being in prison.
To complete a fixed period of time doing something, especially in prison or in an official position.
VERB
A2
4
szervál
B1
Usage pattern:
to serve [the ball]
She served an ace to win the game.
Ászt szervált, és ezzel megnyerte a gémet.
He served the ball over the net with great speed.
Nagy sebességgel szerválta át a labdát a háló fölött.
It's your turn to serve.
Learner examples
She serves the ball fast.
Gyorsan szerválja a labdát.
It is my turn to serve.
Most én következem szerválni.
He serves into the net.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'serve' with 'hit'; 'serve' is specifically the action that starts play.
Meaning
Hit or throw ball to start play
Collocations
serve an ace
|serve the ball
|serve into the net
Synonyms
deliver (In sports, refers generally to sending the ball into play.)
Antonyms
receive (To be on the receiving end of a serve.)
Themes
sports
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To send the ball into play at the start of a point in a sport.
To hit, throw, or otherwise deliver the ball to start play in sports like tennis or volleyball.
VERB
B1
5
szolgál
B2
Usage pattern:
to serve as [something]
This incident serves as a warning to others.
Ez az eset figyelmeztetésül szolgál mások számára.
The sofa also serves as a bed.
A kanapé ágyként is szolgál.
Her story serves as an inspiration.
Learner examples
This photo serves as a memory.
Ez a fénykép emlékül szolgál.
The box serves as a table.
A doboz asztalként szolgál.
Water serves many purposes.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse 'is' instead of 'serve as' when describing function.
Meaning
Be used for a purpose
Collocations
serve as an example
|serve a purpose
|serve as a reminder
Synonyms
function (Focuses on performing a role or purpose.)
Antonyms
fail (Not fulfill the intended purpose.)
Themes
general
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To be used for something.
To be useful or suitable for a particular purpose.
Grammar
Dictionary form
serve
IPA
GB/sˈɚv/
US/sˈɚv/
Syllables & stress
serve (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (serve)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: serve
- 3rd Person Singular: serves
- Present Participle: serving
- Past: served
Word family
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
Expressions
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.
Examples
- 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.
Examples
- 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.
Examples
- 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.
Examples
- 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.
Examples
- 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.
Examples
- It serves him right for lying.
- If she failed, it serves her right after all that cheating.