to serve
- verb
- /sɜrv/
- The second thing, it does serve a real purpose.
- serve a purpose
- serve well
- serve a function
I do it because stocks serve as reserves.
- I do it because stocks serve as reserves.
- Staying in something too long serves nobody at all.
- So I think that they that structure mostly serves as landmarks.
- What purpose do they serve to be there?
- How many people can I serve, reach, touch, inspire.
- But the thing about these standards is they serve as barriers to entry.
- Maybe because they felt it could serve as good click bait.
- What do you want to how do you want to serve the world now?
- Deep understanding of the individuals that you serve as a brand, right?
- Even Calhouse, when he's doing good for others, he's serving his own purposes.
- So I'm still able to serve everyone through this.
Examples
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Ultimately, archivists can more effectively serve their institutions' users by knowing more about them.
Academic text (2015) -
As for the program studied, the school is serving more students than it ever has.
Academic text (2015) -
Skills that will serve them well throughout their life.
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Actually, all of these plants serve more than just adding beauty.
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Head Start schools provide an educational foundation but also serve physical and mental health needs.
Academic text (2015) -
We can serve our weakness, or we can serve our purpose.
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As with other certification programs, the fellowship serves educational and marketing purposes for its members.
Academic text (2017) -
The library website is designed, or should be, to serve the library's patrons, not the staff.
Academic text (2015) -
The new software is designed to serve as a tool for better project management.
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This initiative aims to serve the community by providing free educational resources.
Synonyms
Be enough for what is needed
To work in a particular role or job
Have an effect or work in a certain way
Serve in the role of a person or thing
To be enough for what is needed
To be enough to meet a need or purpose
To help achieve a goal or plan
Antonyms
Idioms
- Informal
A punishment that someone deserves because of their own wrong actions
To try to please two people or groups who want different things and fail to please either
Phrasal Verbs
- Formal
To give someone an official written letter telling them about a change or end of an agreement
Compounds
How Useful
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word serve comes from the old root serv-, from servire meaning 'to serve' or 'be useful to'. So when something 'serves' a purpose it is useful and does the job it is meant to do.