serve

To bring or give food or drinks to people so they can eat or drink them.

• We serve breakfast at eight.
• The waiter served us coffee.
• Is this dish served hot or cold?

How to use it: serve someone something (They served us fresh bread.); serve something with something (Serve the soup with bread.)

Common phrases: serve dinner, serve someone something, serve with something

To be useful for a particular purpose or meet a particular need.

• This box can serve as a table.
• The old bridge still serves a useful purpose.
• Her experience served her well in her new job.

How to use it: serve as something (This room serves as an office.); serve to do something (The diagram serves to explain the process.)

Similar words: function

Common phrases: serve as something, serve a purpose, serve someone well

To work for a person or organization, often in a particular role.

• She serves in the army.
• He served as mayor for ten years.
• My grandfather served the same family throughout his working life.

How to use it: serve in something (He served in the navy for six years.); serve as something (She served as chair of the committee.); serve under someone (They served under an experienced commander.)

Similar words: work for

Common phrases: serve in something, serve as something, serve the country

To spend a period in prison as a punishment.

• He served two years in prison.
• She has already served half her sentence.
• How much time did they serve for the robbery?

How to use it: serve time for something (He served time for theft.)

Common phrases: serve time, serve a sentence, serve five years

To start a point in a game such as tennis by hitting the ball to your opponent.

• It is your turn to serve.
• She served an ace to win the game.
• Who will serve first in the next set?

Common phrases: serve the ball, serve first, serve an ace

To officially give someone a legal document that requires them to respond or take action.

• They served the court papers yesterday.
• A lawyer served her with a summons.
• The notice must be served on every tenant.

How to use it: serve someone with something (The tenant was served with an eviction notice.); serve something on someone (They served the summons on him at work.)

Similar words: deliver

Common phrases: serve a summons, serve notice, serve someone with something

The shot that starts a point in a game such as tennis.

• It is your serve.
• Her powerful serve won the point.
• He missed both serves and lost the game.

Similar words: service

Common phrases: first serve, powerful serve, your serve

A striking look or performance that people admire.

• That outfit is a serve.
• Her red carpet look was a total serve.
• The dramatic makeup and silver boots were such a serve.

Common phrases: such a serve, a total serve