Dictionary monolingual
English
Serve
sərv
Extremely common
600 - 700
600 - 700
The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000. This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.
The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000. This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.
Serve -
To provide a service or help to someone
Example: The waiter served us our meals promptly.
Usage: formalContext: restaurants, customer service
Note: Commonly used in service-related industries.
To work for someone or be employed by an organization
Example: She serves as the CEO of the company.
Usage: formalContext: work, employment
Note: Often used in professional contexts to indicate a position or role.
To be useful or beneficial in a particular situation
Example: His experience in marketing served him well in the new job.
Usage: formalContext: career, personal development
Note: Used to indicate how something contributes positively to a situation.
To be suitable for a particular purpose or function
Example: This old laptop still serves my needs for basic tasks.
Usage: informalContext: everyday life, technology
Note: Commonly used in casual conversations to express adequacy or functionality.
Serve's synonyms
assist
To help or support someone in a task or action.
Example: Can I assist you with anything?
Note: Serving implies fulfilling a role or function, while assisting focuses on providing help or support.
aid
To provide assistance or support, especially in a difficult situation.
Example: The organization provides aid to those in need.
Note: Similar to assist, aid emphasizes providing help or support to someone.
attend
To take care of or deal with something or someone.
Example: The waiter will attend to your table shortly.
Note: Serving involves fulfilling a duty or function, while attending focuses on taking care of someone or something.
wait on
To serve food or attend to the needs of guests or customers.
Example: The butler will wait on the guests during dinner.
Note: Waiting on someone specifically refers to serving them, often in a formal or hospitality context.
Serve expressions, common phrases
Serve a purpose
To be useful or fulfill a function.
Example: This tool serves a purpose in the kitchen.
Note: This phrase emphasizes the utility or functionality of something.
Serve the community
To help or assist the people in a particular area.
Example: She has dedicated her life to serving the community.
Note: This phrase highlights providing assistance or support to a group of people.
Serve a sentence
To spend a period of time in prison as punishment for a crime.
Example: He will serve a five-year prison sentence for his crime.
Note: This phrase specifically refers to fulfilling a punishment imposed by the legal system.
Serve as
To hold a particular position or have a particular role.
Example: She serves as the director of the company.
Note: This phrase indicates functioning in a specific role or capacity.
Serve up
To provide or offer something, especially food.
Example: The chef served up a delicious meal for the guests.
Note: This phrase is often used in the context of serving food or drinks to others.
Serve on a jury
To act as a member of a jury in a court of law.
Example: She was selected to serve on a jury for a high-profile case.
Note: This phrase refers to participating in the legal process by serving on a jury.
Serve notice
To officially inform someone about a decision or action, often in a formal written document.
Example: The landlord served notice to the tenants to vacate the premises.
Note: This phrase involves formally notifying someone about a decision or change.
Serve everyday (slang) expressions
Serve looks
To 'serve looks' means to display a fashionable or striking appearance with confidence and style.
Example: She always serves looks whenever she walks into a room.
Note: This slang term focuses on the act of presenting oneself stylishly rather than performing a service as in the original word.
Serve face
When someone 'serves face,' it means they are projecting a particularly strong and captivating facial expression, often in photography or modeling contexts.
Example: Wow, she really knows how to serve face in her Instagram photos.
Note: This slang term highlights the skill or artistry in conveying emotions or attitude through facial expressions.
Serve tea
To 'serve tea' means to share or spread gossip or juicy information, usually in a dramatic or entertaining manner.
Example: She loves to serve tea about celebrity gossip.
Note: While 'serving tea' involves the act of sharing information, it is done in a more colorful or embellished way different from the traditional service.
Serving vibes
When something or someone is 'serving vibes,' it means they are exuding a specific mood, atmosphere, or energy that is noticeable and impactful.
Example: The cafe is really serving cozy vibes with its decor and music.
Note: The slang term 'serving vibes' emphasizes the transmission of a particular feeling or ambiance, unlike the literal act of providing a service.
Serve an ace
In sports like tennis, 'serving an ace' refers to hitting a serve that the opponent cannot touch, resulting in a point scored immediately.
Example: She served an ace to win the tennis match.
Note: This slang term retains the sports context of serving but specifically highlights achieving a high level of success or excellence in a single action.
Serve sass
To 'serve sass' means to respond with witty, sarcastic, or bold remarks, particularly in a conversation or argument.
Example: She knows how to serve sass in her comebacks during arguments.
Note: This slang term focuses on delivering sharp and confident responses, highlighting attitude and style rather than offering a conventional service.
Serve it up
When someone 'serves it up,' they deliver an outstanding or impressive performance or action that captures attention and admiration.
Example: He really served it up with that amazing performance at the concert.
Note: This slang term emphasizes excelling in a particular action or presentation, showcasing skills or qualities that stand out from regular actions related to serving.
Serve - Examples
Serve me a cup of coffee, please.
The waiter will serve us in a minute.
The hotel serves breakfast from 7 to 10 am.
Serve grammar
Serve - Verb (Verb) / Verb, base form (Verb, base form)
Lemma: serve
Conjugations
Noun, plural (Noun, plural): serves, serve
Noun, singular or mass (Noun, singular or mass): serve
Verb, past tense (Verb, past tense): served
Verb, gerund or present participle (Verb, gerund or present participle): serving
Verb, 3rd person singular present (Verb, 3rd person singular present): serves
Verb, base form (Verb, base form): serve
Verb, non-3rd person singular present (Verb, non-3rd person singular present): serve
Syllables, Separation and Stress
serve Contains 1 syllables: serve
Phonetic transcription: ˈsərv
serve , ˈsərv (The red syllable is stressed)
Serve - Importance and usage frequency
The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000.
serve: 600 - 700 (Extremely common).
This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.
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