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
Two hours after Sinner held those championship points, before letting a chance to serve out the tournament slip through his fingers, Alcaraz sprinted across the baseline to blast a forehand down the line before falling to the clay in ecstasy.
—
Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 11 July 2025
The Thomson prison was not Burke’s first choice of places to serve out his sentence.
—Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2025
Last year, Ricketts handily won his bid in a special election to serve out the remaining two years of Sasse's term.
—July 8, CBS News, 8 July 2025
Scrolling her phone at the baggage claim, Aguirre saw the news that would define county politics for months and transform her own political career: Nora Vargas, arguably at the height of power, had decided not to serve out her next term on the Board of Supervisors.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 July 2025
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Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 11 July 2025
The Thomson prison was not Burke’s first choice of places to serve out his sentence.
—Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2025
Last year, Ricketts handily won his bid in a special election to serve out the remaining two years of Sasse's term.
—July 8, CBS News, 8 July 2025
Scrolling her phone at the baggage claim, Aguirre saw the news that would define county politics for months and transform her own political career: Nora Vargas, arguably at the height of power, had decided not to serve out her next term on the Board of Supervisors.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for serve out
Cite this Entry
“Serve out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/serve%20out. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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