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