ENGLISH
REFERENCE

preserved

v.
B1 Intermediate US //pɹəˈzɝvd// UK //pɹɪsˈɜːvd// pre·served

v. to keep something in its original state and protect it from being damaged or destroyed. You use this when talking about saving old buildings, keeping food fresh, or protecting nature.

v. to maintain something in its original or existing state; to protect from decay or extinction. Transitive — requires a direct object representing the entity being maintained.


SIMPLE

The museum preserved the ancient letters in a glass case.

CONTEXTUAL

The local community fought hard to ensure the historic theater was preserved for future generations.

COMPLEX

By documenting oral histories, the researchers preserved the unique linguistic nuances of a dialect that is rapidly disappearing from the region.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage

The verb is transitive and often appears in the passive voice when discussing historical sites or environmental protection.

Idioms1 entry

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