verb

preserve

pruh-ZURV

verb

To keep something safe from harm, damage, or decay.

"They worked hard to preserve the old building from demolition."

"Salt was traditionally used to preserve meat."

noun

A sweet spread made by cooking fruit with sugar.

"She spread strawberry preserve on her toast."

An area set aside to protect wildlife or a particular activity.

"The land was turned into a nature preserve."

How to Use Preserve

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo protect something from damage or decay, or (as a noun) a fruit spread or a protected area.

Common pairings

preserve the environment strawberry preserves nature preserve

preserved past tense, preserves plural, preserves singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Can you complete this real example?

They worked hard to _____ the old building from demolition.

From Old French preserver, ultimately from Latin prae- ("before") and servare ("to keep, guard") — literally "to guard beforehand."

nerve serve swerve deserve observe reserve conserve