v. 1
To protect; to keep from harm or injury.
Let's pray that we'd be preserved from danger.
v. 2
To save from decay by the use of some preservative substance, such as sugar or salt; to season and prepare (fruits, meat, etc.) for storage.
to preserve peaches or grapes
n. 1
A sweet spread made of any of a variety of fruits.

Related words

Word family: preserver preservation
Phrases: nature preserve natural preserve

Forms

Plural: preserves → conserves, jams, marmalades, jellies…
Past participle: preserved
e.g. preserved → protected, maintained, defended, sustained…

Choose the right word

Preserve, Keep or Maintain?

In the expressions to keep a secret, keep one's own counsel, keep faith, or keep the faith, such words as preserve or maintain could not be substituted without loss.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

protect We should tell children how to protect themselves.
maintain Algeria is determined to maintain its sovereignty.
defend We should tell the children how to defend oneself.
sustain Algeria needs to sustain a better level of growth.
save The word processor will save you a lot of trouble.
embalm Music can embalm a special moment.

Popularity over time

Word	1850 → 2019	Trend
preserve		steady
protect		rising
maintain		steady
defend		steady
sustain		steady
save		rising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

3 letters: jam¹
4 letters: keep¹, save¹, cure¹
5 letters: guard¹, spare¹, jelly²
6 letters: secure², defend², rescue², shield¹, uphold², embalm², comfit
7 letters: protect², sustain²
8 letters: continue³, maintain², conserve²
9 letters: marmalade³, sweetmeat, confiture
10 letters: confection³

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (jelly² = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français: préserver
Italiano: preservare
Español: guardar