serve

VERBNOUN /sɜrv/
5 LETTERS · 1 SYLLABLE · STARTS WITH S

serve is a valid 5-letter word worth 8 points in Scrabble and 9 points in Words with Friends.

SCRABBLE WORDS WITH FRIENDS
S1E1R1V4E1
1 + 1 + 1 + 4 + 1 =8 PTS
DOUBLE WORD → 16TRIPLE WORD → 24
MEANING

What does serve mean?

VERB · 15 SENSES
1

Mate with.

“male animals serve the females for breeding purposes”

SYNONYMS
NARROWER
2

Spend time in prison or in a labor camp.

SYNONYMS
BROADER
NARROWER
3

Provide (usually but not necessarily food).

“We serve meals for the homeless”

“The entertainers served up a lively show”

NARROWER
4

Contribute or conduce to.

“The scandal served to increase his popularity”

5

Devote (part of) one's life or efforts to, as of countries, institutions, or ideas.

“She served the art of music”

“He served the church”

BROADER
6

Do duty or hold offices; serve in a specific function.

“He served as head of the department for three years”

“She served in Congress for two terms”

7

Do military service.

“She served in Vietnam”

“My sons never served, because they are short-sighted”

8

Put the ball into play.

“It was Agassi's turn to serve”

BROADER
NARROWER
RELATED
9

Be used by; as of a utility.

“The sewage plant served the neighboring communities”

“The garage served to shelter his horses”

SYNONYMS
10

Be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity.

“Nothing else will serve”

11

Work for or be a servant to.

“May I serve you?”

“The minister served the King for many years”

NARROWER
12

Serve a purpose, role, or function.

“The tree stump serves as a table”

“The female students served as a control group”

SYNONYMS
13

Deliver a warrant or summons to someone.

BROADER
14

Help to some food; help with food or drink.

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

SYNONYMS
15

Promote, benefit, or be useful or beneficial to.

“Art serves commerce”

“Their interests are served”

SYNONYMS
RELATED
NOUN · 1 SENSE
1

(sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play.

“his powerful serves won the game”

SYNONYMS
AT THE BOARD

Anagrams of serve

SAME TILES, DIFFERENT WORDS

Every anagram above uses exactly the same letters — tap one to see its meaning and score.