third-person singular verb
Gives food or drink to someone.
The restaurant serves delicious food.
She serves coffee after lunch.
American English
How to pronounce serves
verb · nounB1Very common word
SERVZ
/sɚvz/
One syllable.
Form of serve
Gives food or drink to someone.
Practice out loudMeanings & examples
third-person singular verb
Provides a person or group with the help or work they need, especially through a business or public organization.
The school serves children from diverse backgrounds.
This bus serves the airport.
third-person singular verb
Is useful for a particular purpose or has a particular function.
The law serves to protect citizens' rights.
The room serves as a quiet office.
third-person singular verb
Works in an official position or as a member of an organization.
Susan serves as the team captain.
He serves on the city council.
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.