служи́ть

common #806B2

verbimperfective perfective is послужи́ть

1.
to serve (in the military), to be in servicemilitary
Он служи́л в а́рмии два го́да.
He served in the army for two years.
Used with в + prepositional case for the place of service.
2.
to serve (someone), to serve (a cause)
Он всю жизнь служи́л нау́ке.
He served science all his life.
The person or cause served takes the dative case.

Usage info

Use dative case when meaning "serve someone"

Неконтролируемы, э́ти си́лы мо́гут быть опа́сны и разруши́тельны, но однажды будучи освоены, они мо́гут служи́ть воле и жела́нию челове́ка.
Uncontrolled, these forces may be dangerous and destructive, but once mastered they can be bent to man's will and desire.
Мой дя́дя заста́вил меня служи́ть перево́дчиком.
My uncle made me serve as interpreter.
Мозг слу́жит мно́гим лю́дям, кото́рые без вла́сти, а власть слу́жит мно́гим лю́дям, у кото́рых нет мо́зга.
The brain serves many people who are without power, and power serves many people who have no brains.
Я служи́л в разведчасти.
I served in the intelligence corps.
Приме́ром мо́жет служи́ть Германия.
Germany can serve as an example.
Оби́да, причи́ной кото́рой ста́ла свобо́да слова, не должна́ служи́ть оправда́нием наси́лию.
Being offended by freedom of speech should never be regarded as a justification for violence.
Провода слу́жат для переда́чи электри́чества.
Wires are used to convey electricity.
Вы до́лжны служи́ть приме́ром для други́х.
You ought to set an example for the others.

Note: Stress change.

Imperative
ты	служи́
вы	служи́те

Active present	слу́жащий	employee, office worker, white-collar worker
Active past	служи́вший	having served, former, ex-, served
Passive present	служи́мый	official, in service, (dated) working
Passive past	слу́женный	served, completed (of a term)
Gerund present	служа́	while doing (present)
Gerund past	служи́в служивши	while doing (past)

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Verb	Prefix	Meaning
служи́ть	-	to serve (in the military); to serve (someone)
служи́ться	-	to work out
вы́служить	вы-	to qualify
вы́служиться	вы-	to earn promotion