Deserve Definition

dĭ-zûrv

deserved, deserves, deserving

verb

deserved, deserves, deserving

To have a right to because of acts or qualities; be worthy of (reward, punishment, etc.); merit.

Webster's New World

To be worthy.

Webster's New World

To be entitled to, as a result of past actions; to be worthy to have.

After playing so well, the team really deserved their win.

After what he did, he deserved to go to prison.

This argument deserves a closer examination.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Origin of Deserve

Middle English deserven from Old French deservir from Latin dēservīre to serve zealously dē- intensive pref. de– servīre to serve serve

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Old French deservir, from Latin dēservīre, from de- + servīre.

From Wiktionary