preserve

[ pri-zurv ]

verb (used with object)

, pre·served, pre·serv·ing.

1. to keep alive or in existence; make lasting:

   to preserve our liberties as free citizens.

   Synonyms: conserve

   Antonyms: destroy

2. to keep safe from harm or injury; protect or spare.

   Synonyms: shield, shelter, safeguard

3. to keep up; maintain:

   to preserve historical monuments.

   Synonyms: sustain, continue, keep up

4. to keep possession of; retain:

   to preserve one's composure.

5. to prepare (food or any perishable substance) so as to resist decomposition or fermentation.
6. to prepare (fruit, vegetables, etc.) by cooking with sugar, pickling, canning, or the like.
7. to maintain and reserve (game, fish, etc.) for continued survival or for private use, as in hunting or fishing.

verb (used without object)

, pre·served, pre·serv·ing.

1. to preserve fruit, vegetables, etc.; make preserves.
2. to maintain a preserve for game or fish, especially for sport.

noun

1. something that preserves.
2. that which is preserved.
3. Usually preserves. fruit, vegetables, etc., prepared by cooking with sugar.
4. a place set apart for protection and propagation of game or fish, especially for sport.

preserve

/ ˌprɛzəˈveɪʃən; prɪˈzɜːv /

verb

1. to keep safe from danger or harm; protect
2. to protect from decay or dissolution; maintain

   to preserve old buildings

3. to maintain possession of; keep up

   to preserve a façade of indifference

4. to prevent from decomposition or chemical change
5. to prepare (food), as by freezing, drying, or salting, so that it will resist decomposition
6. to make preserves of (fruit, etc)
7. to rear and protect (game) in restricted places for hunting or fishing
8. intr to maintain protection and favourable conditions for game in preserves

noun

1. something that preserves or is preserved
2. a special area or domain

   archaeology is the preserve of specialists

3. usually plural fruit, etc, prepared by cooking with sugar
4. areas where game is reared for private hunting or fishing

Derived Forms

• preˈserver, noun
• preˈservably, adverb
• preˌservaˈbility, noun
• preservation, noun
• preˈservable, adjective

Other Words From

• pre·serv·a·ble adjective
• pre·serv·a·bil·i·ty [pri-zur-v, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], noun
• pres·er·va·tion [prez-er-, vey, -sh, uh, n], noun
• pre·serv·er noun
• non·pre·serv·a·ble adjective
• un·pre·serv·a·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of preserve¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English preserven, from Medieval Latin praeservāre “to guard” ( Late Latin: “to observe”), equivalent to Latin prae- prefix meaning “before, prior to, in advance” ( pre- ) + servāre “to watch over, keep, preserve, observe”

Word History and Origins

Origin of preserve¹

C14: via Old French, from Late Latin praeservāre literally: to keep safe in advance, from Latin prae- before + servāre to keep safe

Synonym Study

See defend.

Example Sentences

"Do we want to preserve our current coasts, flexibly adapt to change, or give way completely to the rising sea? This is how we use the power of design and imagination!"

From Science Daily

Other research labs have used simulations to show that reducing population-level food consumption can lower energy costs, preserve land and water resources, and reduce greenhouse gas creation by keeping discarded food out of landfills.

From Science Daily

"For our new study, we were eager to use live brain tissue to preserve the dynamics, the natural compositions, and the localization of these proteins."

From Science Daily

Weight-loss and diabetes drug tirzepatide can reduce the risk of death or worsening heart failure for patients with heart failure, preserved heart pump function and obesity, new research from UVA Health reveals.

From Science Daily

In its advice, the eSafety Commissioner has floated the idea of using a third-party service to anonymise a user’s ID before it is passed on to any age verification sites, to “preserve” their privacy.

From BBC

Related Words

• conserve
• defend
• freeze
• keep
• perpetuate
• protect
• retain
• safeguard
• save
• secure
• store
• sustain
• uphold