serve

USAGE SUMMARY

'serve' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it as a verb to mean to provide something that a person or group needs or wants, or to perform duties for a situation or person. Example sentence: He served the community by volunteering in the local hospital.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Before adjourning for sentencing, Judge Timothy Pontius said: "I emphasise very firmly that the fact I'm releasing you on bail should not serve as any sort of indication of what the sentence will be".

The Guardian

The rules do allow, however, for former employees collecting retirement benefits to serve as independent directors.

The New York Times

United and determined we can serve as a model for other regions of the world.

The Guardian

Which elements may serve her and which will not?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I decided AWS S3 would do, as you can store static files there cheaply and serve them over HTTP.

The Guardian

It is not a long contract, just six weeks, and I imagined I, too, might be able to serve out my time in office before anyone noticed my shortcomings, and my failure to harbour any cohesive hermetic vision.

The Guardian - Opinion

And then there's his political activism and liberal views, which only serve to make him more appealing to his admirers.

The Guardian - Opinion

Eventually the Weatherwatch "leapt into the computer age", which meant data from a Unisys laptop that would now only serve as the basis for an internet meme.

The Guardian - Sport

The chef sets up a stall in the middle of the Campo and the genial Carlo and Davide serve up heaped plates of the dish of the day, which could be a delicious fritto misto, wild mushroom risotto or tasty goulash, priced at €7-10 with a glass of wine included.

The Guardian - Travel

Ultimately, he believes, music is there to serve the movie.

The Guardian - Music

After a successful year on the doubles circuit in which she made three grand slam finals with Dellacqua, she has plenty of experience on the big stage, which will serve her well when she takes on the top players.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "serve", consider the context to ensure you're conveying the intended meaning, whether it's providing a service, fulfilling a function, or performing a duty.

Common error

Avoid using "serve" when "service" (as a noun) is more appropriate. "Serve" is a verb indicating an action, while "service" is a noun referring to the act of providing assistance or the system that does so.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "serve" is as a verb, indicating an action of providing, assisting, or fulfilling a duty. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples across diverse contexts, from serving food to serving a legal notice.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Lifestyle

25%

Sport

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Science

6%

Travel

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "serve" is a versatile verb widely used to express actions of providing, assisting, or fulfilling duties. As Ludwig AI underlines, it is grammatically correct and prevalent across diverse contexts, particularly in news, lifestyle, and sports reporting. It maintains a neutral tone making it appropriate in many registers. When using "serve", keep in mind the variety of meanings and usages to ensure proper conveyance, and avoid confusion with the noun "service". Its high frequency and reliable usage cement its place as a fundamental verb in the English language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

provide

This alternative focuses on supplying or making something available, differing from "serve" which often implies a duty or function.

be useful to

This emphasizes the utility or benefit provided, which is a key component of "serve" in many contexts.

assist

While "serve" can imply assistance, this term directly emphasizes helping or aiding someone.

attend to

Focuses on taking care of specific needs or tasks, similar to "serve" in a service-oriented context.

function as

This phrase emphasizes the role or purpose something fulfills, similar to one aspect of "serve".

fulfill

Suggests completing a requirement or obligation, akin to "serve" in contexts of duty or responsibility.

work for

This indicates employment or dedication to a specific entity, differing from the broader applications of "serve".

minister to

This suggests caring for someone's needs, often in a compassionate or supportive way, similar to "serve" in its caring context.

carry out

This implies performing or executing a duty, aligning with the action-oriented aspect of "serve".

discharge

This implies performing a duty and completing it, similar to the fulfillment aspect of "serve".

FAQs

How do I use "serve" in a sentence?

"Serve" can be used in many ways. For example, "The waiter will "serve" the customers", "This law should "serve" its purpose", or "He decided to "serve" in the army".

What can I say instead of "serve" when providing food?

When you want to offer someone food or drink you can alternatives like "offer", "dish out", or "present depending on the level of formality".

What is the difference between "serve" and "service"?

"Serve" is a verb that describes the act of providing something or performing a duty. "Service" is a noun that refers to the act of serving or a system providing assistance. For example, "The waiter's job is to "serve", providing excellent "service"".

Is "serve" only used in formal contexts?

No, ""serve"" is used in both formal and informal contexts, depending on the intended meaning. For example, "He will "serve" a prison sentence" (formal) vs "Let me "serve" you some tea" (informal).