serving

1 of 2

noun

serv·​ing ˈsər-viŋ How to pronounce serving (audio)
Synonyms of servingnext
: a helping of food or drink

serving

2 of 2

present participle of serve entry 1

Examples of serving in a Sentence

Noun This is my third serving of mashed potatoes. According to the package, one serving size is 6 ounces.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Recipe information 2 hours 10–12 servings Ingredients 4 Tbsp. — Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Sep. 2026 The kosher-, gluten-, dairy-, and sugar-free supplement has a 20-ounce volume (that’s about 28 servings) and promises to support skin, bones, hair, nails, and joints alike with its 20 grams of collagen peptides per serving. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2026 For example, Sam’s Club rotisserie chicken contains 430 milligrams of sodium per 3-ounce serving. — Jillian Kubala, HEALTH, 1 Sep. 2026 Brancato says chia is one of her favorites because a serving provides close to 30% of the daily requirement for women over 30. — Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for serving

Word History

Etymology

Noun

serve entry 1 + -ing entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1864, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of serving was in 1864

Phrases Containing serving

Rhymes for serving

See All Rhymes for serving

Browse Nearby Words

servility
serving
serving board
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Serving.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/serving. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

serving

noun
serv·​ing
ˈsər-viŋ
: a helping of food or drink
another serving of vegetables

More from Merriam-Webster on serving

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for serving

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of apiary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All