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