serve out

phrasal verb

served out; serving out; serves out
: to complete (a term in office, a prison sentence, etc.)
He was unable to serve out his five-year term as chairperson.
She was allowed to serve out her sentence in a prison close to home.

Examples of serve out in a Sentence

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.
Rosado will succeed Commissioner Manolo Reyes, who died in April, and will serve out the remainder of Reyes’ term, which runs through late 2027. Tess Riski, Miami Herald, 4 June 2025 Rose West is still in prison and serving out her life sentence at HM Prison New Hall. Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025 Maria Lindsay, an Aurora deputy chief of staff, is set to serve out her last day with the city on May 13. R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2025 Gauff managed to steady herself and survive that day, though it was dicey to the end, with Gauff failing to serve out the match on her first attempt. Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 3 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for serve out

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Serve out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/serve%20out. Accessed 8 Jun. 2025.

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!