# preserve

/pɹəˈzɝv/ (US) · /pɹɪsˈɜːv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/preserve
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to keep safe

verb · CEFR B2

to keep something safe from being damaged or destroyed.

For teachers: to maintain something in its original or existing state; to protect from harm or decay.

- The committee is working hard to preserve the town's historic buildings.
- The foundation's primary mission is to preserve the fragile ecosystem of the wetlands against the encroaching threat of industrial development.

Usage: Often used with a direct object representing a physical site or an abstract concept like peace or tradition.

### 2. to save food

verb · CEFR B2

to treat food so that it stays fresh for a long time.

For teachers: to treat food with a preservative, such as salt, sugar, or vinegar, to prevent decomposition.

- In the past, people used salt to preserve meat for the winter.
- Artisanal producers often preserve seasonal fruits using traditional methods that avoid artificial chemicals and excessive processing.

### 3. fruit spread

noun · CEFR B2

a food made of fruit and sugar, similar to jam.

For teachers: a food preparation consisting of fruit preserved with sugar; often used in the plural form.

- She bought a jar of strawberry preserves at the local market.
- The breakfast buffet featured a variety of homemade preserves, ranging from classic apricot to more exotic ginger and pear combinations.

Usage: Commonly used in the plural 'preserves' in American English when referring to the food product.

### 4. nature area

noun · CEFR B2

an area of land where animals and plants are protected.

For teachers: a geographic area reserved and managed for the protection of wildlife or natural features.

- The hiking trail goes right through the middle of the bird preserve.
- The coastal preserve serves as a vital nesting ground for several endangered species of sea turtles.

Usage: In British English, 'reserve' is more common for this meaning.

### 5. exclusive activity

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

an activity or job that only a specific group of people can do.

For teachers: a sphere of activity or interest regarded as being reserved for a particular person or group.

- In the past, higher education was often the preserve of the wealthy.
- For decades, the upper echelons of the legal profession remained the exclusive preserve of a small, socially connected elite.

Teaching tip: This sense is often used with 'exclusive' to highlight social or professional barriers.

## Examples

- In the past, higher education was the preserve of the wealthy.
- For many decades, the high-end fashion industry remained the exclusive preserve of a few elite European houses.
- While the technology was once the sole preserve of government agencies, it has since become ubiquitous in the private sector, fundamentally altering the landscape of digital privacy.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.