B2 verb
deserve
/dɪˈzɜːv/
- Meaning
- to have earned something because of your actions
- Example
- "You deserve a rest after all that work."
- Similar & related words
- meritearnbe worthy ofdeservedundeserveddeservedly
- How to use it
- As a verb, "deserve" carries the action of the sentence. Practice it in three forms — a fact about yourself, a question, and a negative — for example, turn the example sentence above into your own situation.
- Common mistake
- Pattern: 'deserve to do' — 'You deserve to win'. Not 'deserve doing'. 'He deserves it' is both praise and criticism depending on context!