Serve Time

Pronunciation: /sɜrv taɪm/

Definitions of serve time

noun a period of time spent in prison as a punishment for a crime

Example Sentences

A1 He serve time in prison for his crime.

A2 She was sentenced to serve time for shoplifting.

B1 The criminal had to serve time in a maximum-security prison.

B2 After serving time for his conviction, he was released on parole.

C1 The judge decided to make him serve time in a rehabilitation center.

C2 Despite serving time in prison, he was able to turn his life around and start anew.

Examples of serve time in a Sentence

formal The convicted criminal will have to serve time in prison for their crimes.

informal He's going to serve time for what he did, no way around it.

slang Dude, I heard he's gonna serve some serious time behind bars.

figurative If you keep making poor choices, you'll end up serving time in your own personal prison of regret.

Grammatical Forms of serve time

• past tense: served
• plural: serve
• comparative: more served
• superlative: most served
• present tense: serves
• future tense: will serve
• perfect tense: have served
• continuous tense: is serving
• singular: serves
• positive degree: serve
• infinitive: to serve
• gerund: serving
• participle: served

Origin and Evolution of serve time

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: Middle English

Story behind the word: The phrase 'serve time' originated from the Middle English word 'serven' meaning to fulfill a duty or obligation, and 'time' referring to a period of imprisonment.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the phrase 'serve time' has come to specifically refer to serving a sentence in prison, highlighting the legal aspect of fulfilling a punishment for a crime.