service

SaySUR-vis/ˈsɝ.vɪs/UK/ˈsɜː.vɪs/

Pluralservices

Verbservices, servicing, serviced

28 meanings of service

Practice

1
customer worknouncountable or uncountable
The work of helping or assisting people, done as a business.
Like a repair shop: people pay for help, not for a product.
Many people in our town have service jobs in shops and restaurants.
Tourism brings a lot of service work to the island every summer.
UsageSay service jobs or the service industry. Services are the kinds of help a business sells.
Similarsupport, assistance
Note
2
noununcountable
The way a restaurant, hotel, or store looks after its customers, and how well and how fast it does it.
The food was great, but the service was so slow that we waited an hour for dessert.
The hotel staff gave us friendly service from the moment we checked in.
UsageSay good, slow or friendly service. You complain about bad service.
Note
3
helpful actnouncountable or uncountable
A helpful act you do for another person.
Like lending a hand to a neighbor who really needs it.
You did me a great service by watching the kids.
Her advice was a great service to me when I started my new job.
UsageSay do someone a service, or be of service to someone.
Similarfavor, kindness, help, assistance, aid
Oppositedisservice, harm
Note
4
worshipnouncountable or uncountable
A formal religious ceremony held for worship.
The morning service lasted about an hour.
They sang three hymns during the service.
UsageYou go to a service, and a church holds one.
Similarceremony, rite, ritual, worship, liturgy
5
nouncountable
A bus, train, or boat that runs on the same route at set times, or one trip on it.
There is a bus service to the airport every half hour.
We missed the last service home and had to take a taxi.
UsageUse to before the place you are going: a bus service to the airport.
Similarroute
Note
6
nouncountable or uncountable
The right to use something, like a hotel room or online video, without owning it.
Like borrowing a library book: you use it, then give it back.
A streaming service lets you watch films without buying them.
The rental service gives you a car to use but not to keep.
Similaraccess
7
nouncountable or uncountable
A part of a company or group that handles one kind of work.
The hospital's emergency service treated dozens of patients.
The hospital's mental health service hired three new nurses.
Similardepartment, office, division, bureau, agency
8
noununcountable
The use or working of a machine, vehicle, ship, or system, as when it starts or stops being used.
The old elevator was taken out of service after it broke down twice in one week.
The city will put ten new buses into service next month.
UsageSay in service or out of service. A sign saying out of service means you cannot use it now.
Similaruse, operation
9
military dutynoununcountable
Time spent working as a member of the armed forces.
His service in the navy lasted ten years.
She was thanked for her service overseas.
UsageSay years of service. People say thank you for your service to soldiers.
Similarduty
Note
10
employmentnouncountable or uncountable
The state of working for or under another person or group.
She entered the service of a rich merchant family.
He spent his youth in the service of a noble household.
UsageSay in the service of someone.
Similaremploy, employment, duty, servitude
Note
11
nouncountable
A regular check of a car or machine, when someone looks it over and fixes small things to keep it working well.
My car is due for a service, so I'm taking it to the shop on Friday.
The mechanic found a worn belt during the car's yearly service.
UsageYour car is due for a service, or you get it serviced.
Similarcheckup
Note
12
maintainverbtransitive
To check and repair a machine so it keeps working well.
Like giving a bike a tune-up so it rides smoothly.
We service the heater every fall.
A mechanic serviced our van last week.
UsageUse it for machines: service a car. Said about a person, it can sound sexual.
Similarmaintain, overhaul, repair, fix
Note
13
program functionnouncountable or uncountable
A task that one computer or program carries out for another.
Like a help desk that other programs can call when they need something.
The email service went down for an hour this morning.
Restarting the service fixed the problem.
Note
14
utility supplynouncountable or uncountable
Something like electricity or water that is supplied to homes through a network.
The storm cut off electric service across the town.
We pay for water service every month.
UsageSay water service or electric service. A storm can cut off service.
Similarutility
15
serve an areaverbtransitive
To provide people or a place with what they need, as in 'the clinic services nearby villages'.
Like a delivery van that brings what many homes need.
Two bus lines service the whole north side of town.
A single power plant services thousands of nearby homes.
UsageIt is a more business-like word than serve: two bus lines service the town.
Similarserve
Note

Less common meanings

16
armed forcesnouncountable or uncountable
The armed forces of a country, taken as a whole.
He joined the service right after finishing school.
Both her brothers are in the service.
UsageSay the service: she is in the service.
Similarmilitary, forces
17
opening hitnouncountable or uncountable
The first hit that puts the ball into play in tennis and similar games.
Her service dropped just inside the line.
He won the point with a fast service.
UsagePeople usually say serve. A service fault is a serve that breaks the rules.
Similarserve
Note
18
repay debtverbtransitive
To pay back money you owe, or to pay the interest on it.
Like making your monthly payments so a debt slowly gets smaller.
The company can barely service its loans each month.
They service their mortgage with part of every paycheck.
UsageUse it with money you owe: service a loan.
Similarpay, repay
Note
19
legal deliverynouncountable or uncountable
The official act of giving someone legal papers, such as a court summons.
Like officially handing someone papers so they cannot say they never got them.
The case was delayed because service of the summons had not happened yet.
The court needs proof of service before the case can go ahead.
UsageSay service of the papers on someone.
Similardelivery
Note
20
dish setnouncountable or uncountable
A matching set of plates, dishes, or utensils for serving meals.
She brought out the good tea service for her guests.
The whole dinner service matched the tablecloth.
UsageSay a tea service or a dinner service.
Similarset
21
breed (animals)verbeuphemistictransitive
To breed with a female animal so that she becomes pregnant.
The farmer hired a stallion to service his mares.
One ram can service a large flock in a single season.
UsageA bull services the cows. Used about sex between people, service is rude.
Similarcover, serve, mount
Note
22
attackverbeuphemistictransitive
To attack a target, especially with weapons.
The jets were sent to service the enemy position before dawn.
Artillery units service multiple targets along the front.
Similarengage, strike, attack, hit, bombard
Note
23
verbvulgartransitive
To perform a sexual act on someone, especially to please them.
She refused to service him just because he had bought her dinner.
He assumed any partner would service him on demand.
Similarpleasure
Note
24
treenouncountable
A European tree like the rowan, or its small fruit, eaten when very ripe and soft.
Like a cousin of the apple tree that grows small, sour fruit.
A service tree grew at the edge of the old orchard.
In spring, the service tree near our gate is covered in white flowers.
Note
25
rope wrappingnouncountable or uncountable
The yarn and small lines wrapped around a rope to protect it.
Similarserving, wrapping
Note
26
nounobsoletecountable or uncountable
A show of respect and a sign of the duty owed to someone.
Pray, do my service to his majesty.
1613, William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher]Here, service means my respect and duty, like sending regards.
Note
27
noun
Music written for the set words of a church service, especially in the Church of England.
28
nounIsraelWest BankJordanLebanonSyria
A shared taxi that carries unrelated riders, who each pay part of the fare.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of service apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–23, 25–26

It came through Old French from Latin servitium, from servus meaning "servant, slave."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Service came through Old French from Latin servitium. en.wiktionary.org
Latin servitium derives from servus. en.wiktionary.org
Latin servus means servant or slave. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 24

From Latin sorbus, the name of the tree. It is not related to the usual word service, though that word shaped its spelling.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

The tree-name service derives from Latin sorbus, meaning service tree. en.wiktionary.org
The tree-name is etymologically unrelated to the usual word service, which influenced its spelling. en.wiktionary.org