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