To conserve means to protect something valuable from being wasted, damaged, or used up too quickly. When you conserve water during a drought, you take shorter showers and turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth. When you conserve your energy during a long race, you pace yourself instead of sprinting at the start and running out of steam.

Conserving comes from recognizing that some things are limited or precious. A museum conserves ancient artifacts by keeping them in special cases that protect them from light and humidity. Scientists work to conserve endangered species by protecting their habitats. A family might conserve their savings by spending carefully on what they truly need.

The word connects to the idea of preserving something for the future. When you conserve your phone's battery on a long trip, you're making sure you'll have power when you really need it. When communities conserve forests and parks, they're protecting these places so future generations can enjoy them too. Conservation is the practice of conserving: wildlife conservation protects animals, and energy conservation helps preserve natural resources like coal, oil, and natural gas.