served

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "served" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in various contexts, such as in the culinary field, legal terminology, or when discussing serving a purpose or function. Example: "The chef served the meal with a side of fresh vegetables."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was a ridiculous idea dreamed up by his advisers who have served him badly.

The Guardian

The Newry and Armagh MP said: "I have served the party as deputy leader through very difficult times.

The Guardian

Carr, who served as NSW premier for 10 years, entered the Senate and became foreign minister at the request of former prime minister Julia Gillard in March 2012, when Kevin Rudd returned to the backbench after losing a leadership challenge.

The Guardian

As I depart Langley, I want you to know that it has been the greatest of privileges to have served with you, the officers of our Nation's Silent Service, a work force that is truly exceptional in every regard.

The Guardian

The recipients of the subpoenas will not be named until the documents are served, presumably by Friday.

The Guardian

He was sent to prison, where he served a sentence of 24 days, an experience that traumatised him.

The Guardian - Arts

"The secret service would be best served by a transformative and dynamic leader from outside the agency," he concluded, describing such a leader as "someone with a fresh perspective, free from allegiances and without ties to what has consistently been described as a 'good old boys network'".

The Guardian

Gavrielatos said the program undermined the secular traditions of state schools, adding the students would be better served by "expert trained school counsellors, psychologists and welfare officers".

The Guardian

Open Mon-Fri 4pm-2am, Sat-Sun 2pm-2AllAll of the beer served at JB's is brewed within a 100-mile radius of Philadelphia.

The Guardian - Travel

Lamb, a former employment lawyer, is more aligned with the politics of the coalition, having served as minister for care and support.

The Guardian

By the end of the day our new software had been given more of a workout than we could have guessed, but it served us all admirably.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal contexts, "served" can denote fulfilling a specific duty or role (e.g., "served as minister").

Common error

Avoid using "serve" actively when "provide" is more appropriate. For instance, instead of "The waiter served us", say "The waiter provided us with" or "The waiter helped us".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "served" is as a past participle of the verb "serve". Ludwig AI examples show it's used to indicate a completed action, such as fulfilling a role, providing a service, or presenting food.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Travel

20%

Sport

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science

8%

Reference

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "served" functions primarily as the past participle of the verb "serve", indicating a completed action, duty, or provision. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent use across various contexts, notably in News & Media, Travel, and Sport. While versatile, it's advisable to consider alternatives like "functioned as" or "performed duties" for nuanced expressions. Remember to use "provide" rather than "serve" in active voice constructions where appropriate. Overall, "served" is a versatile term that contributes effectively to both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Functioned as

Emphasizes the role or purpose fulfilled.

Performed duties

Highlights the execution of assigned tasks.

Fulfilled a term

Focuses on completing a designated period in a specific role.

Provided assistance

Stresses the act of helping or aiding.

Administered to

Implies managing or dispensing something, often in a formal context.

Handed out

Focuses on the action of distributing or giving something directly.

Dispensed

Highlights the act of distributing or providing something, often in measured amounts.

Meted out

Implies distributing or allotting something, often in a measured or fair way.

Rendered

Suggests providing something, often a service or form of assistance.

Carried out

Emphasizes the completion or execution of a task or plan.

FAQs

How can I use "served" in a sentence?

You can use "served" to describe food presentation, like "The soup was "served hot"". It can also describe fulfilling a duty, as in "He "served in the military"".

What's a formal alternative to "served"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "performed duties" or "functioned as" as alternatives to "served".

Is it correct to say "The purpose was served"?

While grammatically correct, it's more common to say "The purpose was achieved" or "The need was fulfilled". The phrase "served its purpose" is also frequently used.

What's the difference between "served" and "provided"?

"Served" often implies a formal or structured action, such as in the military or in a restaurant setting. "Provided" is more general and can refer to simply giving or supplying something.