verb
to give food or drink to someone
They served us dinner at seven.
Would you like me to serve the drinks?
Common phrases & grammar
serve breakfast · serve dinner · serve food · serve a meal
serve someone something
serve something to someone
American English
How to pronounce serve
verb · nounB1Very common word
SERV
/sɚv/
One syllable.
to give food or drink to someone
Practice out loudMeanings & examples
verb
to give a person or group the help or work they need, especially as part of a business or public organization
This store serves local customers.
The clinic serves the whole community.
Common phrases & grammar
serve customers · serve the public · serve a community
serve someone
serve someone's needs
verb
to be useful for a particular purpose or to have a particular function
The meeting served a useful purpose.
This note serves as a reminder.
Common phrases & grammar
serve a purpose · serve as a reminder · serve to reduce costs
serve a purpose
serve as + a warning
verb
to work in an official position or as a member of an organization
She served as mayor for eight years.
He serves on the school board.
Common phrases & grammar
serve as president · serve on a jury · serve in the army
serve as + president
serve on + a committee
Useful expressions
to work or function as something
The garage serves as a workshop.
to show that someone deserves the bad result they got
He ignored the warning, so it serves him right.
to spend time in prison as punishment
He served time for tax fraud.
Related words & forms
Drop the final e before -ing: serving.