verb phrase · neutral
serve a sentence
UK/sɜːv ə ˈsɛntəns/US/sɝːv ə ˈsɛntəns/SERVE a SEN·tence
to spend the time ordered by a court as punishment (usually in prison)
Examples
“He served a five‑year sentence for fraud and was released last year.”
“Non‑custodial sentences allow offenders to avoid serving a sentence in prison.”
“She had to serve the sentence despite pleas for leniency.”
Band 8 sentence
“Although he was sentenced to ten years, mitigating circumstances reduced the time he had to serve.”
Collocations
- serve a five‑year sentence
- serve time
Word family
Common mistakes
do the sentence→serve a sentence
take a sentence→serve a sentence
Say it for a higher band
5do the sentence→6take a sentence→7+serve a sentence
Synonyms
serve time
Easily confused
serve time
“He was sentenced to six years and had to serve the sentence in a high‑security prison.”
Related words
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