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WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026pre•serve /prɪˈzɜrv/USA pronunciation
v., -served, -serv•ing, n. v. [~ + object]
- to keep (something) alive or in existence;
make (something) lasting;
protect:to preserve our liberties.
- to keep up;
maintain;
take action to prevent decay:to preserve historical monuments.
- to keep possession of;
keep;
retain:He managed to preserve his composure during the debates.
- to prepare (food) so as to prevent or slow down its decay:preserving meat.
- to prepare (fruit, etc.) by cooking with sugar, etc.
- to maintain and protect (game, etc.) for continued survival or for private use, as in hunting or fishing.
n. [countable]
- something that preserves.
- that which is preserved.
- FoodUsually, preserves. [plural] fruit prepared by cooking with sugar.
- a place set apart for protection of game or fish, esp. for sport:a forest preserve.
- something looked on as belonging to a particular person or group of people only:She was running for the Senate to prove that politics was no longer just a male preserve.
pre•serv•er, n. [countable]See -serv-2.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026pre•serve
(pri zûrv′),USA pronunciation v., -served, -serv•ing, n. v.t. - 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.
v.i. - to preserve fruit, vegetables, etc.;
make preserves.
- to maintain a preserve for game or fish, esp. for sport.
n. - something that preserves.
- that which is preserved.
- FoodUsually, preserves. fruit, vegetables, etc., prepared by cooking with sugar.
- a place set apart for protection and propagation of game or fish, esp. for sport.
- Medieval Latin praeservāre to guard (Late Latin: to observe), equivalent. to Latin prae- pre- + servāre to watch over, keep, preserve, observe
- Middle English preserven 1325–75
1. conserve. 2. safeguard, shelter, shield. See defend. 3. continue, uphold, sustain.
'preserver' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
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