to be served

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrase

   to be given food or drink, especially in a restaurant or at a meal.

   Grammar: Passive form of 'serve'; often follows 'ready' or 'about to': The soup is ready to be served.

   Patterns

   • ready to be served
   • to be served with something
   • to be served at a temperature

   The cake is ready to be served with fresh cream.

   These dishes are best to be served hot.

   Dinner is about to be served, so please sit down.

2. 2phrasefixed phraselegalformal

   to be formally given an official document, such as a legal notice or court order.

   Grammar: Used in legal contexts; the person or organization is the subject: He is to be served with a summons.

   Patterns

   • to be served with a notice
   • to be served on someone
   • to be served a summons

   The company is to be served with a court order.

   Papers must be served on the defendant within 14 days.

   He was served with a warning about his behavior.

3. 3phrasefixed phrase

   to be given help, attention, or a product by someone whose job is to provide it.

   Grammar: Common in customer service: Customers to be served at the counter.

   Patterns

   • to be served by someone
   • to be served at a counter
   • waiting to be served

   We waited ten minutes to be served at the bar.

   All passengers are to be served by the cabin crew.

   She hates to be served before her guests.

Common combinations

ready to be served

The meal is ready to be served.

to be served with

The fish is to be served with lemon and herbs.

to be served cold

This soup is to be served cold.

to be served on

The legal notice is to be served on the company's director.

Synonyms and how they differ

to be given

More general and less specific to food or legal papers.

to be presented

Used for formal or ceremonial serving, such as a dish presented at a banquet.

Word family

serve verb

To give food, help, or a service to someone.

service noun

The act of helping customers or providing food.

server noun

A person who serves food or drinks.

Commonly confused: to be served or to serve?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “to be served”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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