Words / B1

di-ZURV/dɪˈzɜːv/

Deserve means you have earned something by what you did. Deserve a break; deserve to win. Earn is often about money; deserve is about fairness. Do not write “deserve to” without a verb (deserve to be heard). Deserving is an adjective, more formal.

Meaning

To have earned something because of what you did.

Examples

• “You deserve a break after that exam.”
• “The team deserved a better result.”
• “Nobody deserves to be treated like that.”

Good to know

deserve + noun / deserve to + verb. Money: earn. Fairness: deserve.

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