serve time

verb

To be confined in prison or a similar institution, typically for wrongdoing that violates the law.

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Meanings

verbserve time (third-person singular simple present serves time, present participle serving time, simple past and past participle served time)

present singular third person serves time · participle present serving time · participle past served time · past served time

  1. idiomaticTo be confined in prison or a similar institution, typically for wrongdoing that violates the law.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
do timelive at her majesty's pleasure
Cite this entry
APA

serve time. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/serve%20time

MLA

“serve time.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/serve%20time. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “serve time,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/serve%20time.

Source: serve time on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.