Clues for the word "SERVE"
We've had 136 crossword clues used for this word, and seen it 235 times in crosswords. It was last seen in New York Times crossword on December 12, 2025.
Definition of serve
- v. t. - To work for; to labor in behalf of; to exert one's self continuously or statedly for the benefit of; to do service for; to be in the employment of, as an inferior, domestic, serf, slave, hired assistant, official helper, etc.; specifically, in a religious sense, to obey and worship.
- v. t. - To be subordinate to; to act a secondary part under; to appear as the inferior of; to minister to.
- v. t. - To be suitor to; to profess love to.
- v. t. - To wait upon; to supply the wants of; to attend; specifically, to wait upon at table; to attend at meals; to supply with food; as, to serve customers in a shop.
- v. t. - Hence, to bring forward, arrange, deal, or distribute, as a portion of anything, especially of food prepared for eating; -- often with up; formerly with in.
- v. t. - To perform the duties belonging to, or required in or for; hence, to be of use to; as, a curate may serve two churches; to serve one's country.
- v. t. - To contribute or conduce to; to promote; to be sufficient for; to satisfy; as, to serve one's turn.
- v. t. - To answer or be (in the place of something) to; as, a sofa serves one for a seat and a couch.
- v. t. - To treat; to behave one's self to; to requite; to act toward; as, he served me very ill.
- v. t. - To work; to operate; as, to serve the guns.
- v. t. - To bring to notice, deliver, or execute, either actually or constructively, in such manner as the law requires; as, to serve a summons.
- v. t. - To make legal service opon (a person named in a writ, summons, etc.); as, to serve a witness with a subp/na.
- v. t. - To pass or spend, as time, esp. time of punishment; as, to serve a term in prison.
- v. t. - To copulate with; to cover; as, a horse serves a mare; -- said of the male.
- v. t. - To lead off in delivering (the ball).
- v. t. - To wind spun yarn, or the like, tightly around (a rope or cable, etc.) so as to protect it from chafing or from the weather. See under Serving.
- v. i. - To be a servant or a slave; to be employed in labor or other business for another; to be in subjection or bondage; to render menial service.
- v. i. - To perform domestic offices; to be occupied with household affairs; to prepare and dish up food, etc.
- v. i. - To be in service; to do duty; to discharge the requirements of an office or employment. Specifically, to act in the public service, as a soldier, seaman. etc.
- v. i. - To be of use; to answer a purpose; to suffice; to suit; to be convenient or favorable.
- v. i. - To lead off in delivering the ball.
Referring Clues
- Do one's duty
- Start a handball game
- Be of use
- Sampras asset
- Start a point
- Wait on
- Deliver, as a summons
- Assist
- Start court proceedings?
- Start a volleyball point
- Try for an ace, perhaps
- Supply the food
- Start a tennis match
- Be of assistance to
- Tennis starter
- Start the match
- Bring to the table
- Bring to the dinner table
- Match starter
- Start a game, in a way
- Start a set
- Tennis opening
- Dish up
- Dish out
- Game opener, sometimes
- Start a volley
- Put in time
- Fill the bill
- Bring out a meal
- Start a tennis game
- Start the tennis game
- Badminton opener
- Do some waiting
- Do duty as a soldier
- Dish up or dish out, e.g.
- Put out, as dinner
- Accommodate
- Try for an ace
- Serena specialty
- Start the tennis match
- Bring dinner to the table
- Dish out food
- Contribute to the cause
- Act (as)
- Rocket from Roddick
- Tennis offering
- Work for
- Start a rally
- Bring to the supper table
- Begin a tennis match
- Act the waiter
- Do the duty
- Do one's bidding
- Do a waiter's job
- Be in the Army
- Suffice
- Go for an ace, maybe
- Sock a shuttlecock
- Distribute the donuts
- Set starter
- Volunteer for the Peace Corps, say
- Make oneself useful
- Dish (up)
- Court starter
- Join the army
- Join the Peace Corps, say
- Do a hitch in the military
- Start the game, perhaps
- Function
- Start a volleyball game
- Launch a tennis ball
- Wait upon
- Start a match
- Start of a tennis point
- Hope for an ace
- 25-Across starter
- Do some waiting?
- Start a rally, in tennis
- Attend
- Start of a tennis match
- Put into play
- Tennis match starter
- Tennis move
- Minister to
- Do a hitch
- Do military duty
- Put dinner on the table
- Tennis-game start
- Tennis term
- Start playing tennis to be of use
- Tennis match start
- Dylan "Gotta ___ Somebody"
- Perform nonsense verse
- Would an ace do so faultlessly?
- Be of use to - wait on
- Bring food to table
- Start play at tennis
- Attend to
- What Nirvana will do to "the Servants"
- Do a tour of duty in the Persian Gulf, e.g.
- Do the job
- Commence play in tennis
- Bring out dinner
- Do
- Cater
- Be a waiter
- Be adequate
- Dish up some coarser vegetables
- Place a meal on the table
- What those waiting do to start play?
- Pass as new verse
- Serena's opening move
- Try to break love
- Try for an ace, maybe
- Start a court contest
- Begin a tennis game
- Start of a rally
- Cater to
- Pass as clever verse
- Start of a tennis rally
- Open a match
- Present food or drink to
- Begin a volleyball game
- Pass the ball to an opponent?
- Opening tennis shot
- Would an ace do so faultlessly?
- A bad one is your fault
- Starting action on a court
- Start of a volleyball rally
- Word that means "look good" in ball culture
- Soft ___ ice cream
- Tennis game opener
- Tennis start
- Start to rally, maybe
- Be in the military
- Ace, e.g.
Last Seen In
- New York Times - December 12, 2025
- Daily Quick - December 08, 2025
- Daily Quick - November 30, 2025
- Evening Standard Cryptic - November 11, 2025
- New York Times - November 06, 2025
- New York Times - August 01, 2025
- Penny Dell Daily - July 05, 2025
- Daily American - July 05, 2025
- New York Times - July 04, 2025
- Mirror Daily - June 08, 2025
- Daily Cryptic - May 14, 2025
- Penny Dell Daily - March 19, 2025
- King Syndicate - Thomas Joseph - January 14, 2025
- USA Today - January 13, 2025
- King Syndicate - Thomas Joseph - November 15, 2024
- Evening Standard Cryptic - November 13, 2024
- Mirror Daily - October 25, 2024
- USA Today - October 10, 2024
- King Syndicate - Thomas Joseph - September 20, 2024
- Mirror Daily - August 31, 2024
- Daily American - August 25, 2024
- Daily Quick - July 12, 2024
- King Syndicate - Thomas Joseph - June 29, 2024
- Evening Standard Easy - June 06, 2024
- Penny Dell Daily - May 23, 2024
- Daily Cryptic - May 03, 2024
- Daily Quick - April 19, 2024
- Evening Standard Quick - April 09, 2024
- Evening Standard Quick - March 29, 2024
- Daily American - March 01, 2024
- And in 205 more crossword puzzles...