server

noun

serv·​er ˈsər-vər 

1

: one that serves food or drink

2

: the player who serves (as in tennis)

3

: something used in serving food or drink

4

: one that serves legal processes upon another

5

: the celebrant's assistant at mass

6

: a computer in a network that is used to provide services (such as access to files or shared peripherals or the routing of email) to other computers in the network

Synonyms of server

• waiter
• waitress

Examples of server in a Sentence

She asked our server for another glass of wine.

we had barely finished ordering when the server brought our salads

Recent Examples on the Web

On one attempt, the process server observed four cars in the driveway, but no one answered at the front door, the new filing said. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026

The heated pool at the Sebastian is the stuff of ski town dreams, with a waterfall, stone galore, multiple hot tubs, and servers who bring snacks and cocktails. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Instead of seeing the game through screenshots or computer vision, the AI reconstructed its environment from server network messages and game data, then built its own tools to navigate and play. — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026

Some resent the feeling of being pressured into tipping while servers hover over them with the payment machines. — CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English server, servere, from serven "to serve entry 1" + -er, -ere -er entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing server

• ad server
• altar server
• blade server

Rhymes for server

• fervor
• fervour
• observer
• preserver

Kids Definition

server

noun

serv·​er ˈsər-vər 

1

: a person who serves food or drink

2

: the player who puts a ball in play

3

: something (as a tray) used in serving food or drink

4

: a computer in a network that is used to provide services (as access to files or the delivery of email) to other computers