Serve: meaning, definitions and examples
🍽️
serve
[ sərv ]
in a restaurant
Perform duties for others by providing them with meals or drinks.
Synonyms
attend to, help, wait on
Examples of usage
- He served us with tea and cakes.
- She served us a delicious dinner.
in a legal setting
Present (someone) with a formal written notice of a lawsuit.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The lawyer served the defendant with legal papers.
- She served him with a court summons.
in tennis
Hit (the ball) from a stationary position to begin play.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- She served an ace.
- He served the ball with great speed.
in a restaurant
The action of helping or doing work for someone.
Synonyms
aid, assistance, help
Examples of usage
- The waiter gave good service.
- The service was excellent.
Translations
Translations of the word "serve" in other languages:
🇵🇹 servir
- atender
- oferecer
🇮🇳 सेवा करना
- परोसना
- काम करना
🇩🇪 dienen
- servieren
- bedienen
🇮🇩 melayani
- menyajikan
- berfungsi
🇺🇦 служити
- подавати
- обслуговувати
🇵🇱 służyć
- serwować
- obsługiwać
🇯🇵 奉仕する (ほうしする)
- 提供する (ていきょうする)
- サーブする (さーぶする)
🇫🇷 servir
- desservir
- offrir
🇪🇸 servir
- atender
- ofrecer
🇹🇷 hizmet etmek
- servis yapmak
- sunmak
🇰🇷 봉사하다
- 제공하다
- 서브하다
🇸🇦 خدم
- قدم
- عرض
🇨🇿 sloužit
- podávat
- obsluhovat
🇸🇰 slúžiť
- podávať
- obsluhovať
🇨🇳 服务 (fúwù)
- 提供 (tígōng)
- 上菜 (shàngcài)
🇸🇮 streči
- postreči
- nuditi
🇮🇸 þjóna
- bera fram
- bjóða
🇰🇿 қызмет көрсету
- қызмет ету
- ұсыну
🇬🇪 მომსახურება
- შეთავაზება
- მსახურება
🇦🇿 xidmət etmək
- təqdim etmək
- təklif etmək
🇲🇽 servir
- atender
- ofrecer
Word origin
The word 'serve' originated from the Old French word 'servir', which means 'to serve'. It has been used in the English language since the 13th century. The concept of serving others has been an important aspect of human society throughout history, whether in terms of providing food and drinks, fulfilling legal duties, or engaging in sports activities.