deserved

/dɪˈzɜːvd/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˈzɜːrvd/ (ame, ipa) · /di-ˈzərvd/ (ame, mw)

deserved — adjective

  • deservedpositive
  • more deservedcomparative
  • most deservedsuperlative

1. given as a fair return for what someone has done, achieved, or shown in their ch

1.形容詞B2
釋義

given as a fair return for what someone has done, achieved, or shown in their character — they have rightfully earned it.

例句

Christopher took a long, deserved nap after finishing his marathon last Sunday.

attributive: deserved + noun for something earned

Sari finally received the deserved promotion after leading the team for three years.

common collocation: deserved promotion / reward / praise

同義詞
  • earned

    very close synonym; slightly more neutral and process-focused

  • merited

    more formal; often used in writing or judgements

  • just

    emphasises fairness or moral rightness rather than effort

  • rightful

    stresses entitlement, often used with positions or possessions

反義詞
  • undeserved

    directly opposite — received without having earned it

  • unwarranted

    more formal; suggests no good reason for what was given

文法句型

deserved + noun

be deserved

用法筆記

Frequently used attributively before nouns such as reward, promotion, rest, victory, applause, and praise. The fixed compound 'well-deserved' is much more common in speech than bare 'deserved'.

常見錯誤

❌He gave the answer a deserved.
✅He gave the answer the praise it deserved.
💡'deserved' is an adjective, not a noun; it cannot stand alone as the object.