preserved; preserving
1
: to keep safe from injury, harm, or destruction : protect
2
a
: to keep alive, intact, or free from decay
b
: maintain
3
a
: to keep or save from decomposition
b
: to can, pickle, or similarly prepare for future use
4
: to keep up and reserve for personal or special use
1
: to make preserves
2
: to raise and protect game for purposes of sport
3
: to be able to be preserved (as by canning)
1
: fruit canned or made into jams or jellies or cooked whole or in large pieces in a syrup so as to keep its shape
—often used in plural
2
: an area restricted for the protection and preservation of natural resources (such as animals or plants)
a game preserve for regulated hunting or fishing
nature preserves
3
: something regarded as reserved for certain persons
Examples of preserve in a Sentence
Verb
The fossil was well preserved.
These laws are intended to help preserve our natural resources.
They are fighting to preserve their rights as citizens.
The peaches are preserved in syrup.
Salt can be used to preserve meat.
Noun
a jar of strawberry preserve
Game preserves allow only carefully controlled hunting and fishing.
The military was once an all-male preserve.
Recent Examples on the Web
Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
This estate — with 11 bedrooms, 10 full bathrooms and 5 half bathrooms — has meticulously preserved craftsmanship and architectural details from the 1920s design.
—David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2025
Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 8 June 2025
Explore the 300-acre preserve or launch yourself from the top of a coastal dune to enter Lake Michigan with a splash.
—Elaine Glusac, AFAR Media, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for preserve
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show current usage.
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Verb
Heck, the Dodgers used this strategy in the World Series last season, letting Brent Honeywell get rocked in Game 4, their only loss, to preserve the bullpen.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
This estate — with 11 bedrooms, 10 full bathrooms and 5 half bathrooms — has meticulously preserved craftsmanship and architectural details from the 1920s design.
—David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2025
Noun
This eventually led to the creation of the 60/40 rule, which is the same principle but with 60% preserve and 40% development.
—Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 8 June 2025
Explore the 300-acre preserve or launch yourself from the top of a coastal dune to enter Lake Michigan with a splash.
—Elaine Glusac, AFAR Media, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for preserve
Cite this Entry
“Preserve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preserve. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
preserve
1 of 2 verb
pre·serve
pri-ˈzərv 
preserved; preserving
1
: to keep or save from injury, loss, or ruin : protect
preserve the republic
2
: maintain sense 1, continue
preserve silence
3
: to prepare (as vegetables, fruits, or meats) to be kept for future use
preserver
noun
preserve
2 of 2 noun1
: fruit cooked in sugar or made into jams or jellies
strawberry preserves
2
: an area where natural resources (as fish, game, or trees) are protected
Medical Definition
preserve
transitive verb
pre·serve
pri-ˈzərv
preserved; preserving
1
: to keep alive, intact, or free from decay
2
: to keep or save from decomposition
Legal Definition
preserve
transitive verb
pre·serve
pri-ˈzərv
preserved; preserving
1
: to keep safe from injury, harm, or destruction
expenses necessary to preserve the property
2
a
: to keep valid, intact, or in existence (as pending a proceeding)
the right of a trial by jury shall be preserved—U.S. Constitution amend. VII
U.S. Constitution amend. VIIthe dismissal of a chapter 7 case…reinstates certain transfers voided or preserved in the case—J. H. Williamson
J. H. Williamson
b
: to maintain for use or consideration at a later time especially by keeping a record of
deposed the witness to preserve her testimony
a party has the option of preserving the objection raised—J. H. Friedenthal et al.
J. H. Friedenthal et al.Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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