preserve

To keep something in its original or good condition and prevent it from being lost or destroyed.

• We want to preserve this building.
• The family preserved its old photographs.
• These recordings help preserve the local language.

Similar words: maintain, keep, conserve

Opposites: destroy

Common phrases: preserve something, preserve the past, preserve a tradition

To prepare food with salt, sugar, or another substance so it stays good for a long time.

• We preserve fruit for winter.
• They preserved the fish in salt.
• You can preserve these berries with sugar.

How to use it: preserve something in something (They preserve lemons in salt.)

Common phrases: preserve fruit, preserve in salt, preserve in sugar

To keep someone or something safe from harm or danger.

• Our first duty is to preserve life.
• These measures preserve workers from serious injury.
• The shelter preserved the animals from danger.

How to use it: preserve someone/something from something (They prayed that their children would be preserved from harm.)

Similar words: protect, safeguard

Opposites: endanger

Common phrases: preserve someone, preserve human life, preserve from harm

A sweet food made by cooking fruit with sugar, often spread on bread.

• Try this strawberry preserve.
• She makes fruit preserves every summer.
• We spread apricot preserve on warm toast.

Similar words: jam

Common phrases: fruit preserve, strawberry preserve, homemade preserve, raspberry preserve

An area of land kept for particular people to hunt animals in.

• They own a hunting preserve.
• Only members can hunt on this preserve.
• The preserve covers several hundred acres of woodland.

Similar words: hunting reserve

Common phrases: hunting preserve, private preserve, game preserve