deserving

[ dih-zur-ving ]
See synonyms for deserving on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. qualified for or having a claim to reward, assistance, etc., because of one's actions, qualities, or situation: the deserving poor;a deserving applicant.

  2. meriting; worthy: a criminal deserving of a lifetime sentence.

Origin of deserving

1
First recorded in 1570–80; deserve + -ing2

Other words from deserving

  • de·serv·ing·ly, adverb
  • de·serv·ing·ness, noun
  • self-de·serv·ing, adjective
  • un·de·serv·ing, adjective
  • un·de·serv·ing·ly, adverb
  • un·de·serv·ing·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for deserving

deserving

/ (dɪˈzɜːvɪŋ) /


adjective
  1. (often postpositive and foll by of) worthy, esp of praise or reward

noun
  1. rare a merit or demerit; desert

Derived forms of deserving

  • deservingly, adverb
  • deservingness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012