preserve

American  

[pri-zurv] / prɪˈzɜrv /

verb (used with object)

• preserves,
  present (3rd person singular)
• preserved,
  past participle,  past
• preserving
  present participle

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, keep up, continue

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.

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verb (used without object)

• preserves,
  present (3rd person singular)
• preserved,
  past participle,  past
• preserving
  present participle

1. to preserve fruit, vegetables, etc.; make preserves.

2. to maintain a preserve for game or fish, especially for sport.

noun

• preserves
  plural

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 British  

/ 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

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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

Synonym Usage

See defend.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preservability
  noun
• preservation
  noun
• preserver
  noun
• nonpreservable
  adjective
• preservable
  adjective
• unpreservable
  adjective
• preservably
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• preserves
  plural

Participles

• preserving
  present
• preserved
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• preserve
  simple
• preserves
  simple
• have preserved
  perfect
• has preserved
  perfect
• am preserving
  progressive
• are preserving
  progressive
• is preserving
  progressive
• have been preserving
  perfect progressive
• has been preserving
  perfect progressive

Past

• preserved
  simple
• had preserved
  perfect
• was preserving
  progressive
• were preserving
  progressive
• had been preserving
  perfect progressive

Future

• will preserve
  simple
• will have preserved
  perfect
• will be preserving
  progressive
• will have been preserving
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of preserve

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” ( see pre-) + servāre “to watch over, keep, preserve, observe”

Explanation

When you preserve something, you maintain its condition, like trying to preserve your good health by exercising regularly and eating right. The verb preserve describes keeping something as it is now, without a decline in quality. It can also refer to keeping something safe from harm, as in “The group worked hard to preserve the regional ecosystem.” When you preserve food, such as fruit, you keep it from rotting. Jellies and jams are preserves, the noun form. A preserve can also be lands set aside, or preserved, as animal habitats.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

preserve preserves preserved preserving

“We believe the decision reflects a deliberate trade-off: preserve customer economics and deployment velocity while using scale, mix and future manufacturing learning to rebuild part of the margin,” Acree writes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

Outside linebacker Darryl Peterson III had two sacks, including one that resulted in a fumble in the final minute to preserve the victory.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026

"For me, it's a sad feeling, because a place burdened by history is being built over, sacrificed to the economy," Erich Strobl, head of a local campaign to preserve part of the site, told AFP.

From Barron's ● Aug. 28, 2026

The aim is to preserve the unique identity of cheeses, wines and other foodstuffs, supposedly linked to their particular terroir - a French concept that links locality and tradition.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

The room and all the stories Ben tried to preserve will be lost.

From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera

Thomas Gernon, Professor of Earth Science at the University of Southampton and lead author of the study, explained that the Grand Canyon preserves a geological history stretching back about two billion years.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 21, 2026

This also preserves the culinary reason for the limit without overpronouncing it: farmers market ingredients are usually best when they remain recognizable.

From Salon ● Aug. 4, 2026

The new policy preserves the benefits of life-sciences research while defining the areas of greatest risk, including prevention of accidental or intentional lab leaks, and penalties for irresponsible practices.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

“The five-bedroom home preserves its original post-and-beam character while introducing custom millwork, cabinetry, tile, built-ins, and furnishings designed specifically for the property,” adds the listing.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026

Tansy and Aunt Maud had been canning preserves out of the last of the green zebra tomatoes.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck

Researchers are using species recently approved for human consumption as models and comparing the genomes of farmed insects with those of pre-domestication individuals preserved in entomological collections.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 27, 2026

Historic gardens "must be protected and preserved", said Dillamore.

From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026

The lot also included letters, manuscripts, photographs and personal objects preserved by the Hingorani family over generations.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

The preserved tissues date back more than 450 million years, making them far older than the earliest dinosaurs.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 21, 2026

And the example just cited should suffice, for the Kingdom of France would be invincible if Charles’s military institutions had been developed or preserved.

From "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli

"Las Vegas has done a phenomenal job in preserving and... reclaiming water," said Bruce Nelson, whose family has owned the lake's marina for almost 70 years.

From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026

“We wanted to take a really aggressive approach in terms of preserving health…and stabilizing the business,” said finance chief Patraic Reagan.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

Using formaldehyde, a colourless chemical used for preserving biological specimens that is known to cause cancer, for keeping food fresh is strictly prohibited in China.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

The singer noted to the outlet that he has dedicated himself to preserving the work of Black artists, filling his home with various displays, from photography to sculpture.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026

Because I know the answer: Self-preservation isn’t worth it if you can’t live with the self you’re preserving.

From "Every Day" by David Levithan

Related Words

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