Serve: meaning, definitions and examples

Used often in formal or service-oriented situations where assistance is provided, especially in restaurants, organizations, or roles involving delivering goods.

• The waiter will serve your food shortly.
• They serve the community by volunteering at the local shelter.

Primarily used in the context of restaurants or hospitality services where someone is providing service directly to a customer or guest.

• The server will wait on you as soon as you are seated.
• In high-end restaurants, staff often wait on fewer tables to provide better service.

Generally used in contexts where specific needs or issues require care or resolution, often implying a more focused or detailed approach.

• The nurse will attend to the patient's needs.
• Please attend to this matter immediately.

A broad term used in most situations where assistance or support is provided. It can be formal or informal.

• Can you help me with my homework?
• The teacher is always willing to help his students.

Appropriate in formal contexts, especially in military, hospitality, legal settings or when providing food and drink.

• The waiter will serve our dinner soon
• He served in the military for ten years

Used when referring to transporting and handing over items, messages, or in childbirth. Also appropriate in formal speeches or promises.

• The courier will deliver the package tomorrow
• She delivered an inspiring speech at the graduation

Used when transferring possession or control to someone else, often implying a formal or necessary action.

• Please hand over your ID at the front desk
• He handed over the stolen goods to the police

Commonly used in a broad range of everyday situations when transferring objects or information to someone.

• Can you give me a pen? He gave his friend some advice

In sports, especially tennis or volleyball, 'serve' is used to describe the action of starting a point by hitting the ball to the opponent. It is also used in a more general context to describe the act of providing a service or assistance.

• She has a powerful serve in tennis.
• The waiter will serve you shortly.
• The software was designed to serve the needs of small businesses.

Used to describe making contact with something using force. It can be applied in various situations, such as playing sports, physical altercations, or even metaphorically to describe being impacted strongly by something, like news or an idea.

• He hit the ball out of the park.
• She accidentally hit her elbow on the table.
• The news of his retirement hit the team hard.

Involves hitting something or someone with force. Often used in contexts such as hitting in baseball, attacking in combat, or workers' refusal to work in protest. Can also mean a significant discovery or achievement.

• The boxer landed a clean strike to the opponent's jaw.
• Workers decided to go on strike for better wages.
• During the excavation, they made a significant gold strike.

Indicates breaking something into pieces with force. In sports, especially badminton or tennis, 'smash' describes a powerful downward hit. This word generally conveys a high-intensity action.

• She used a hammer to smash the old clock.
• His tennis smash is impossible to return.
• The car smashed into the wall, causing extensive damage.

As mentioned earlier, it involves performing duties or working for others. The repetition here is to emphasize serving in two different contexts— as serving food or beverages and serving a community or nation.

• He decided to serve his community by volunteering at the local shelter
• Each soldier is ready to serve their country

Formal term for help or support, often used in official settings or to emphasize the act of providing help.

• She sought assistance from the embassy
• The program offers assistance to unemployed individuals

Often used in the context of providing help in a formal or organized manner, such as financial support, medical help, or during emergencies.

• Many countries provided aid to the victims of the earthquake
• The Red Cross assisted in delivering medical aid

General term for making it easier for someone to do something by offering one's services or resources.

• Can you help me with my homework? They were willing to help whenever it was needed