serve
gb/sˈɚv/ us/sˈɚv/
A2
Αγγλικά
~ 700
Σημασίες
0 σημασίες
Ρήμα
A2
action
1
Give food or drink to someone
To give food or drink to someone.
Μοτίβο χρήσης:
to serve [someone] [something]
Συχνό λάθος:
Learners sometimes confuse 'serve' with 'cook'; 'serve' means to give the prepared food, not to make it.
Συνώνυμα
offer (More general; can apply to anything, not just food or drink.)
Αντώνυμα
withhold (Refuse to give something, such as food or drink.)
Συνδυασμοί λέξεων
serve dinner
|serve drinks
|serve a meal
|serve customers
Θέματα
daily life
|hospitality
|food_drink
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Παραδείγματα
- The waiter served us our meals quickly.
- They serve breakfast until 10 a.m.
- She served coffee to her guests after dinner.
Παραδείγματα για μαθητές
- The man served me soup.
- She serves tea in the morning.
- They serve lunch at noon.
Ρήμα
B1
action
2
Work for or help someone
To work for and help a person or group.
Μοτίβο χρήσης:
to serve [a person/an organization]
Συχνό λάθος:
Learners may confuse 'serve' with 'work'; 'serve' often implies duty, loyalty, or official role.
Συνώνυμα
assist (Focuses on helping rather than formal duty.)
Αντώνυμα
neglect (Fail to fulfill duties toward someone or something.)
Συνδυασμοί λέξεων
serve the public
|serve in the army
|serve a company
Θέματα
work
|government
|business
|core_vocabulary
Παραδείγματα
- She served as secretary for five years.
- He served his country during the war.
- The lawyer has served many clients over the years.
Παραδείγματα για μαθητές
- He serves in the army.
- She serves the company well.
- They serve the people of this town.
Ρήμα
B2
action
3
Spend time completing duty or sentence
To spend a set time doing a job or being in prison.
Μοτίβο χρήσης:
to serve [a sentence/a term]
Συχνό λάθος:
Learners might confuse 'serve time' with 'spend time'; in legal context, 'serve' is specific to fulfilling a sentence.
Συνώνυμα
fulfill (More general; to carry out an obligation, not necessarily time-based.)
Αντώνυμα
evade (Avoid serving time or duty.)
Συνδυασμοί λέξεων
serve a sentence
|serve time in prison
|serve a term
Θέματα
law
|work
|core_vocabulary
Παραδείγματα
- He served ten years in prison.
- She served two terms as mayor.
- They served their apprenticeship before becoming full members.
Παραδείγματα για μαθητές
- He served five years in jail.
- She served one year as president.
- They served their time and left.
Ρήμα
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.
Μοτίβο χρήσης:
to serve [the ball]
Συχνό λάθος:
Learners sometimes confuse 'serve' with 'hit'; 'serve' is specifically the action that starts play.
Συνώνυμα
deliver (In sports, refers generally to sending the ball into play.)
Αντώνυμα
receive (To be on the receiving end of a serve.)
Συνδυασμοί λέξεων
serve an ace
|serve the ball
|serve into the net
Θέματα
sports
|core_vocabulary
Παραδείγματα
- She served an ace to win the game.
- He served the ball over the net with great speed.
- It's your turn to serve.
Παραδείγματα για μαθητές
- She serves the ball fast.
- It is my turn to serve.
- He serves into the net.
Ρήμα
B1
state
5
Be used for a purpose
To be used for something.
Μοτίβο χρήσης:
to serve as [something]
Συχνό λάθος:
Learners may overuse 'is' instead of 'serve as' when describing function.
Συνώνυμα
function (Focuses on performing a role or purpose.)
Αντώνυμα
fail (Not fulfill the intended purpose.)
Συνδυασμοί λέξεων
serve as an example
|serve a purpose
|serve as a reminder
Θέματα
general
|core_vocabulary
Παραδείγματα
- This incident serves as a warning to others.
- The sofa also serves as a bed.
- Her story serves as an inspiration.
Παραδείγματα για μαθητές
- This photo serves as a memory.
- The box serves as a table.
- Water serves many purposes.
Γραμματική
Λημματική μορφή
serve
IPA
GB/sˈɚv/
US/sˈɚv/
Συλλαβές και τόνος
serve (1 συλλαβή)
Stress on 1st syllable (serve)
Τύποι λέξης
Verb
- Base: serve
- 3rd Person Singular: serves
- Present Participle: serving
- Past: served
Οικογένεια λέξεων
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
Εκφράσεις
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.
Παραδείγματα
- 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.
Παραδείγματα
- 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.
Παραδείγματα
- 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.
Παραδείγματα
- 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.
Παραδείγματα
- 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.
Παραδείγματα
- It serves him right for lying.
- If she failed, it serves her right after all that cheating.