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