preserve

[ pri-zurv ]

See synonyms for: preserve preserved preserves preserving on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),pre·served, pre·serv·ing.

to keep alive or in existence; make lasting: to preserve our liberties as free citizens.
to keep safe from harm or injury; protect or spare.

to keep up; maintain: to preserve historical monuments.
to keep possession of; retain: to preserve one's composure.
to prepare (food or any perishable substance) so as to resist decomposition or fermentation.
to prepare (fruit, vegetables, etc.) by cooking with sugar, pickling, canning, or the like.
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.

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

noun

something that preserves.
that which is preserved.

Usually preserves. fruit, vegetables, etc., prepared by cooking with sugar.
a place set apart for protection and propagation of game or fish, especially for sport.

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”

synonym study For preserve

2. See defend.

Other words for preserve

1	conserve
2	safeguard, shelter, shield
3	continue, keep up, sustain

See synonyms for preserve on Thesaurus.com

Opposites for preserve

destroy

See antonyms for preserve on Thesaurus.com

Other words from preserve

pre·serv·a·ble, adjective
pre·serv·a·bil·i·ty [pri-zur-vuh-bil-i-tee], /prɪˌzɜr vəˈbɪl ɪ ti/, noun
pres·er·va·tion [prez-er-vey-shuhn], /ˌprɛz ərˈveɪ ʃən/, noun
pre·serv·er, noun
non·pre·serv·a·ble, adjective
un·pre·serv·a·ble, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use preserve in a sentence

Today it’s bordered by a series of neighboring natural areas, forming a wilderness preserve that straddles both sides of the international border and stretches for over one million acres, encompassing nearly 1,200 lakes.
Staring Down Fear in Voyageurs National Park | Emily Pennington | January 28, 2021 | Outside Online
The bill gives the Park Service an opportunity to buy up to 100 acres from neighboring private landowners to increase parking for popular trailheads, as well as the chance to bid on nearly 4,000 acres of adjacent land to add to the preserve.
New River Gorge Is Our Newest National Park | Graham Averill | December 22, 2020 | Outside Online
He could be remade into a defender of the environment, a preserver of habitats and champion of rainforest ecology.
Can Tarzan of the Apes Survive in a Post-Colonial World? | Ted Gioia | November 23, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
But every once in awhile someone sends a life preserver with the words, “I agree.”
A Democratic Speechwriter Backing McCain Responds to Attacks | Wendy Button | October 31, 2008 | THE DAILY BEAST
Mr. Pickwick—deepest obligations—life preserver—made a man of me—you shall never repent it, sir.
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 2(of 2) | Charles Dickens

And then, before trusting herself down, she threw her arms around her young preserver's neck, and embraced him tenderly.
Jack Harkaway's Boy Tinker Among The Turks | Bracebridge Hemyng
"Take me to see Fifine's preserver," she said in a commanding voice.
Mary Gray | Katharine Tynan
"Guess we'll have to get a life preserver for you," chuckled Big-foot.
The Pony Rider Boys in Texas | Frank Gee Patchin
That the great preserver of public morals might not be delayed in delivery, Alfred essayed to work the press.
Watch Yourself Go By | Al. G. Field

British Dictionary definitions for preserve

preserve

/ (prɪˈzɜːv) /

verb(mainly tr)

to keep safe from danger or harm; protect
to protect from decay or dissolution; maintain: to preserve old buildings

to maintain possession of; keep up: to preserve a façade of indifference
to prevent from decomposition or chemical change
to prepare (food), as by freezing, drying, or salting, so that it will resist decomposition
to make preserves of (fruit, etc)
to rear and protect (game) in restricted places for hunting or fishing
(intr) to maintain protection and favourable conditions for game in preserves

noun

something that preserves or is preserved
a special area or domain: archaeology is the preserve of specialists

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

Origin of preserve

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

Derived forms of preserve

preservable, adjective
preservability, noun
preservably, adverb
preservation (ˌprɛzəˈveɪʃən), noun
preserver, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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