serve a purpose

This page is about the collocation serve a purpose

collocation pattern: verb + noun

Meaning

to be useful, esp. in achieving an aim or performing a function

For example

  • Health warnings on food packaging will serve a very useful purpose.

  • What purpose does sending more and more drug users to jail serve?

Quick Quiz

Applying again would serve no useful purpose. They

a. might change their minds

b. have run out of purposes

c. won't change their minds
a) might change their minds b) have run out of purposes c) won't change their minds

Contributor: Matt Errey