preserve — to keep something in its original state or in good condition
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to keep something in its original state or in good condition
Pronunciation (IPA): /prɪˈzɜːrv/
Example Sentences
- My mom tries to preserve my childhood photos, but I keep finding them used as bookmarks.
- The museum preserves ancient artifacts for educational purposes.
- He preserved his energy by sleeping through the entire meeting.
preserve
VERB[/prɪˈzɜːrv/]
to keep something in its original state or in good condition
She preserved every letter he ever sent — long after he was gone.
PRE-SERVE it now — so it's ready to serve later. (PRE = before, in advance → SERVE = to offer, to provide → PRESERVE = prepare something BEFORE so you can SERVE it later)
Preserve what you deserve — take the time to observe before it's gone.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin 'praeservare', combining 'prae-' (before) and 'servare' (to keep or protect). The word entered Middle English via Old French 'preserver'.
Breakdown
pre- (before) + serve (to keep/protect) + -e (verb ending) = preserve
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My mom tries to preserve my childhood photos, but I keep finding them used as bookmarks.”
“The museum preserves ancient artifacts for educational purposes.”
“He preserved his energy by sleeping through the entire meeting.”
“Scientists work hard to preserve endangered wildlife species.”
“She preserved her grandmother's recipes by writing them down in a special notebook.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.