verb
deserve
dih-ZURV
verb
1
To have earned or be entitled to something, whether good or bad, because of your past actions.
"She deserves a promotion after everything she has done for the company."
"He deserves to be punished for what he did."
How to Use Deserve
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo have earned something through your own actions, good or bad.
Common pairings
deserve credit
deserve better
deserve a break
Word Forms
deserved past tense, deserves singular
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She _____ a promotion after everything she has done for the company.
Etymology
From Old French deservir, from Latin deservire, "to serve zealously" — from de- + servire ("to serve").