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
But the removal of the board member, who was meant to serve out a five-year term, is without modern precedent.
—
Amy Schoenfeld Walker, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2025
McConnell, 82, stepped down from his role as Senate GOP leader in 2024 but will continue to serve out his term that ends January 2027.
—Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 11 Feb. 2025
Some of the 240 defendants who are still serving out their sentences could be released the same day.
—Aishvarya Kavi, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2025
Local Republican leaders supported a stand-in candidate named Greg Lopez, who promised to serve out the rest of the term and not run again.
—Peter Hessler, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025
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Amy Schoenfeld Walker, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2025
McConnell, 82, stepped down from his role as Senate GOP leader in 2024 but will continue to serve out his term that ends January 2027.
—Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 11 Feb. 2025
Some of the 240 defendants who are still serving out their sentences could be released the same day.
—Aishvarya Kavi, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2025
Local Republican leaders supported a stand-in candidate named Greg Lopez, who promised to serve out the rest of the term and not run again.
—Peter Hessler, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for serve out
Dictionary Entries Near serve out
Cite this Entry
“Serve out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/serve%20out. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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