deserve

verb
UK: /dɪˈzɜːv/
US: /dɪˈzɝːv/

  1. To be worthy of something, either good or bad.

    1. You deserve a prize for your hard work. [ ] [ ]
    2. She didn't deserve the harsh criticism she received for the project. [ ] [ ]

  2. To merit or have a right to something as a result of one's actions or qualities.

    1. He deserves to be happy after all his struggles. [ ] [ ]
    2. Those who cheat on exams do not deserve to pass the course because of dishonesty. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

merit warrant earn rate
deserve transitive-verb

  1. Used to emphasize that someone or something should receive a particular reward or punishment.

    1. They deserve all the success they've achieved. [ ] [ ]
    2. Criminals who commit violent crimes deserve to face the full extent of the law. [ ] [ ]
deserve intransitive-verb

  1. To be good enough.

    1. I deserve better. [ ] [ ]
    2. After all my effort, I deserve to be recognised for my contribution. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "deserve" in English means: To be worthy of something, either good or bad., To merit or have a right to something as a result of one's actions or qualities..

The phonetic transcription of "deserve" is /dɪˈzɜːv/ in British English and /dɪˈzɝːv/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "deserve": merit, warrant, earn, rate.

Example usage of "deserve": "You deserve a prize for your hard work.". More examples on the page.