# serving

/ˈsɝvɪŋ/ (US) · /sˈɜːvɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/serving
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. portion of food

noun · CEFR B1

the amount of food or drink given to one person at a meal.

For teachers: a portion of food or drink intended for one person; a single helping.

- This recipe makes enough for a large serving of pasta for four people.
- The nutritionist recommended a single serving of leafy greens with every meal to ensure adequate vitamin intake.

### 2. act of helping or working

noun · CEFR B2

the act of doing work for someone else or for your country.

For teachers: the act of performing a service, duty, or function, often in an official or professional capacity.

- He was honoured for his many years of serving the local community.
- The veteran was recognised for his selfless serving of the nation during several difficult overseas assignments.

## Examples

- This recipe makes four servings of soup.
- The nutritionist recommended eating at least five servings of vegetables every day to maintain a healthy diet.
- While the packaging suggests the container holds three servings, the high caloric density often leads consumers to underestimate their actual intake during a single sitting.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.