Word
salvaging
Phoneticssal·vaging
US/ˈsæɫvɪdʒɪŋ/
UK/sˈælvɪdʒɪŋ/
Definition
v. to save something useful from damage, waste, or a wreck. You use it when most of something is lost but you still keep what you can.
v. to recover usable material from wreckage, waste, or failure; to rescue value from a damaged situation.
Examples
“They are salvaging wood from the old house.”
“After the flood, volunteers spent days salvaging furniture and photos from damaged homes.”
“While salvaging usable parts from the decommissioned ship, the crew documented each component for reuse in future vessels.”
Examples
simple
“They are salvaging wood from the old house.”
contextual
“After the flood, volunteers spent days salvaging furniture and photos from damaged homes.”
complex
“While salvaging usable parts from the decommissioned ship, the crew documented each component for reuse in future vessels.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “salvaging” in context.
Verb
01. salvage belongings
“Residents returned to salvage belongings from their flooded homes.”
verb + noun
02. salvage from fire
“Firefighters helped salvage books from the fire at the library.”
verb + prep + noun
03. salvage from ruins
“Volunteers salvaged photos from the ruins of the old house.”
verb + prep + noun
04. salvage from wreck
“Divers managed to salvage coins from the wreck off the coast.”
verb + prep + noun
05. salvage pride
“He scored late to salvage some pride for the losing team.”
verb + noun
Adjective
06. barely salvage
“We barely salvaged enough timber to repair the cabin roof.”
adv + verb
07. desperately salvage
“They worked desperately to salvage crops after the flood ruined the fields.”
adv + verb
Noun
08. salvage effort
“The salvage effort focused on saving historic furniture.”
noun + noun
09. salvage mission
“The team launched a salvage mission to recover lost equipment.”
noun + noun
10. salvage operation
“A salvage operation began to recover containers from the sunken ship.”
noun + noun
11. manage to salvage belongings
“We managed to salvage a few belongings after the fire.”
12. salvage a draw from defeat
“They scored in injury time to salvage a draw from defeat.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object.
Real-World Examples
“In Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, families are salvaging materials from the rubble.” Synonyms
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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