SERVE Synonyms: 80 Similar and Opposite Words

serve

verb

ˈsərv

Definition of serve

as in to attend

to be a servant for he served his master faithfully for 20 years

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to suffice

to be enough they made the pasta serve for eight guests

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to do

to be fitting or proper those old riding boots will serve for now, but you'll need newer ones for the horse show

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to treat

to behave toward in a stated way my parents served me well in preparing me for life

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to act

to have a certain purpose the harsh punishment served to teach everyone a lesson

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to benefit

to provide with something useful or desirable an excellent college that served her with the skills necessary to make it in today's job market

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of serve Fleming was received from Los Angeles County in 2019 to serve a 42-year sentence for second-degree robbery and assault with a semiautomatic firearm. — Michael McGough, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026 Setting good and bad examples There are examples of long-serving politicians choosing to plan their exit closer to standard retirement age. — Nancy Forster-Holt, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2026 The Choir is produced for Apple TV by Various Artists Limited and TidyTwo, with Phil Clarke, Jack Bayles, Jones and Corden serving as executive producers, and BAFTA Award nominees Jennifer Sheridan and Jim Archer set to direct. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026 All 64 units will serve low-income households earning up to 60% or less of Area Median Income (AMI). — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for serve

Recent Examples of Synonyms for serve

Verb

Based out of Chile and Los Angeles, the company has already invested up to $250,000 in development ahead of Mipcom, which Quijote head of strategy Sergio Karmy is attending.

— Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
Steve Sarkisian will not budge on this issue One of the primary reasons Manning chose to attend Texas was Sarkisian.

— Mac Engel October 10, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of attend

Verb

Will movie nights and electric go-kart tracks suffice to keep CWG’s buildings full if, as some predict, AI renders large numbers of office jobs redundant?

— Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2026
An unlined park next to the school, which also includes a splash pad and a playground, has to suffice.

— Mike McGraw, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of suffice

Verb

The makeup is top-tier, the Aaliyah swoop bang is swooping, and the jewelry accents stand out without doing too much, which is usually her weak spot.

— Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026
When the boy’s body turns up by a river, the wives’ sisterhood is split between doing what feels right and following their husband’s wishes and Islamic tradition.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of do

Verb

Fitoussi said the project began almost as a joke, with the idea of casting one of France’s busiest actors as someone who never gets to act.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
Please have a plan in place should flash flooding develop and do not hesitate to act.

— NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of act

Verb

The Salty, an artisanal doughnut chain, is running a weeklong campaign benefiting the Breasties, a nonprofit that helps many groups of people affected by breast cancer.

— Henri Hollis, AJC.com, 10 Oct. 2026
In fact, making the effort to maintain friendships can benefit you too, says Ayers, who researches the science of friendship and how to maintain connections.

— Renée Onque, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of benefit

Verb

Spin is the result of eight years of research and development started in 2016 and handled by a team of about 10 tech, fashion and entertainment professionals in addition to Albrighi and Kuo, who serve as co-chief executive officers of the company.

— Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
In that case, however Taylor & Byrne chooses to handle her will be an advantage to Cathcarts.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of handle

Browse Nearby Words

servants

serve

served

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Serve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/serve. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of serve

verb

Example Sentences

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