deserve
B1Formal and informal
Definition
Meaning
to be worthy of a particular reward, outcome, or treatment based on one's actions or qualities.
To have earned, merited, or qualified for something (positive or negative) as a result of one's conduct, character, or status.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word implies a direct and justifiable connection between actions and consequences. It typically precedes abstract nouns (praise, credit) or outcomes (win, promotion). It is stative and rarely used in progressive forms.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or grammar. Spelling and usage are identical.
Connotations
Identical connotations of justice and merit. Slightly more formal register in both dialects.
Frequency
Similar high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
NP __ NP (deserve a reward)NP __ to-INF (deserve to win)NP __ V-ing (deserve telling off)NP __ AdvP (deserve well)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “get what you deserve”
- “deserve a medal”
- “one good turn deserves another”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in performance reviews: 'She deserves a promotion based on her results.'
Academic
Used in arguments about justice or merit: 'The theory deserves further scrutiny.'
Everyday
Common in expressing opinion about fairness: 'You deserve a break.'
Technical
Rare in highly technical contexts; more common in legal/ethical discourse.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The team deserve their victory after such a dedicated season.
- That remark deserves no reply whatsoever.
American English
- The team deserves its victory after such a dedicated season.
- That comment deserves no response whatsoever.
adverb
British English
- (No common adverb form) 'Deservedly' is used: 'She was deservedly praised'.
American English
- (No common adverb form) 'Deservedly' is used: 'He was deservedly fired'.
adjective
British English
- (No common adjective form) 'Deserved' is the participial adjective: 'a deserved victory'.
American English
- (No common adjective form) 'Deserved' is the participial adjective: 'a deserved win'.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- You work hard. You deserve a holiday.
- She is kind. She deserves a friend.
- I think you deserve to know the truth.
- The film deserves its excellent reviews.
- Having endured such hardship, they richly deserve their current success.
- His negligence deserves severe censure.
- The novel's intricate plotting deserves closer analysis than most critics afforded it.
- Such flagrant disregard for protocol deserves to be met with immediate sanctions.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: DE SERVant. A good servant DEserves good treatment.
Conceptual Metaphor
JUSTICE IS A BALANCE (weighing actions against outcomes).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'заслуживать' in all passive-like constructions. English uses active voice: 'He deserves praise' (Он заслуживает похвалы), not 'Praise is deserved by him.'
Common Mistakes
- *He is deserving a reward. (Use 'deserves' not 'is deserving'), *They deserved for a win. (Omit 'for')
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'deserve' INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Rarely. As a stative verb denoting a state, it is almost always used in simple tenses (deserves, deserved). 'Deserving' is mainly used as an adjective ('a deserving candidate').
Typically, no preposition is used before the object. You say 'deserve something' or 'deserve to do something'. Avoid 'deserve for something'.
No. The related noun is 'desert' (/dɪˈzɜːt/), but it is archaic and rarely used (e.g., 'got his just deserts'). Use 'merit' or 'worthiness' instead.
Yes. It is neutral and applies to both positive (praise, reward) and negative (punishment, criticism) consequences based on actions.