Word

serve, v.
(served, serves, serving)
freq. cnt. 214

serve a purpose, role, or function
<verb.stative> freq. cnt.: 58 freq. cnt.: 55 freq. cnt.: 3

function serve

sample sentences

"The tree stump serves as a table"
"The female students served as a control group"
"This table would serve very well"
"His freedom served him well"
"The table functions as a desk"

verb frames

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something

verb frames

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

semantic pointers

verb group

hypernym

do, suffice, answer, serve

hyponym

do duty or hold offices; serve in a specific function
<verb.competition> freq. cnt.: 36 freq. cnt.: 36

serve

sample sentences

"He served as head of the department for three years"
"She served in Congress for two terms"

verb frames

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

semantic pointers

hypernym

hyponym

sit staff act rotate officiate, function caddie, caddy represent

verb group

contribute or conduce to
<verb.stative> freq. cnt.: 24 freq. cnt.: 24

serve

sample sentences

"The scandal served to increase his popularity"

verb frames

Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

semantic pointers

hypernym

effect, effectuate, set up

verb group

serve, serve well

hyponym

help, facilitate

be used by; as of a utility
<verb.social> freq. cnt.: 26 freq. cnt.: 23 freq. cnt.: 3

serve service

sample sentences

"The sewage plant served the neighboring communities"
"The garage served to shelter his horses"

verb frames

Something is ----ing PP
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

verb frames

Something is ----ing PP
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

semantic pointers

hypernym

operate, work, function, run, go

verb group

serve, function

help to some food; help with food or drink
<verb.consumption> freq. cnt.: 23 freq. cnt.: 21 freq. cnt.: 2

help serve

sample sentences

"I served him three times, and after that he helped himself"

verb frames

Somebody ----s somebody
Sam cannot %s Sue

verb frames

Somebody ----s somebody
Sam cannot %s Sue

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

server serving server

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

semantic pointers

verb group

serve, serve up, dish up, dish out, dish

hypernym

provide, cater, supply, ply

provide (usually but not necessarily food)
<verb.consumption> freq. cnt.: 22 freq. cnt.: 20 freq. cnt.: 1 freq. cnt.: 1

dish dish out dish up serve serve up

sample sentences

"We serve meals for the homeless"
"She dished out the soup at 8 P.M."
"The entertainers served up a lively show"

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
The chefs %s the vegetables

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
The chefs %s the vegetables

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
The chefs %s the vegetables

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
The chefs %s the vegetables

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
The chefs %s the vegetables

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

semantic pointers

hypernym

provide, cater, supply, ply

hyponym

verb group

devote (part of) one's life or efforts to, as of countries, institutions, or ideas
<verb.social> freq. cnt.: 19 freq. cnt.: 19

serve

sample sentences

"She served the art of music"
"He served the church"
"serve the country"

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

semantic pointers

hypernym

verb group

serve, wait on, attend, attend to, assist

promote, benefit, or be useful or beneficial to
<verb.stative> freq. cnt.: 7 freq. cnt.: 7

serve serve well

sample sentences

"Art serves commerce"
"Their interests are served"
"The lake serves recreation"
"The President's wisdom has served the country well"

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

semantic pointers

hypernym

nurture, foster

verb group

deliver a warrant or summons to someone
<verb.contact> freq. cnt.: 4 freq. cnt.: 3 freq. cnt.: 1

process serve swear out

sample sentences

"He was processed by the sheriff"

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody with something

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody with something

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody with something

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

semantic pointers

hyponym

subpoena wash, rinse

hypernym

work for or be a servant to
<verb.social> freq. cnt.: 5 freq. cnt.: 3 freq. cnt.: 1 freq. cnt.: 1

assist attend attend to serve wait on

sample sentences

"May I serve you?"
"She attends the old lady in the wheelchair"
"Can you wait on our table, please?"
"Is a salesperson assisting you?"
"The minister served the King for many years"

verb frames

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody with something
Sam cannot %s Sue

verb frames

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody with something
Sam cannot %s Sue

verb frames

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody with something

verb frames

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody with something
Sam cannot %s Sue

verb frames

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody with something
Sam cannot %s Sue

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

servant servitor

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

attender attendant

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

semantic pointers

hypernym

help, aid, assist

hyponym

verb group

spend time in prison or in a labor camp
<verb.stative> freq. cnt.: 5 freq. cnt.: 3 freq. cnt.: 2

do serve

sample sentences

"He did six years for embezzlement"

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s PP

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s PP

semantic pointers

hyponym

hypernym

put the ball into play
<verb.competition>

serve

sample sentences

"It was Agassi's turn to serve"

verb frames

Somebody ----s

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

semantic pointers

domain of synset (topic)

hypernym

hyponym

mate with
<verb.contact>

serve service

sample sentences

"male animals serve the females for breeding purposes"

verb frames

Something ----s something

verb frames

Something ----s something

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

service servicing

semantic pointers

hypernym

mate, copulate, pair, couple

hyponym

do military service
<verb.social>

serve

sample sentences

"She served in Vietnam"
"My sons never served, because they are short-sighted"

verb frames

Somebody ----s

semantic pointers

verb group

hypernym

be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity
<verb.stative> freq. cnt.: 14 freq. cnt.: 11 freq. cnt.: 3

answer do serve suffice

sample sentences

"A few words would answer"
"This car suits my purpose well"
"Will $100 do?"
"A `B' grade doesn't suffice to get me into medical school"
"Nothing else will serve"

verb frames

Something ----s

verb frames

Something ----s
It ----s that CLAUSE

verb frames

Something ----s

verb frames

Something ----s

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

sufficient sufficiency sufficiency sufficiency

semantic pointers

hyponym

tide over, bridge over, keep going go a long way serve, function qualify, measure up go around

hypernym

satisfy, live up to, fulfill, fulfil