Preserve means to keep something safe from harm, decay, or change. When you preserve something, you protect it so it can last longer or remain in good condition.

You might preserve food by canning it, freezing it, or adding salt, which keeps it from spoiling. Museums work to preserve ancient artifacts and paintings so future generations can see them. People preserve old buildings by maintaining and repairing them rather than tearing them down. National parks preserve wilderness areas, protecting forests, rivers, and wildlife from development.

The word can also mean to maintain or continue something valuable. A family might preserve their traditions by teaching them to younger members. When someone fights to preserve their dignity in a difficult situation, they're protecting their self-respect.

As a noun, preserves are fruit cooked with sugar to keep it from spoiling, like strawberry preserves spread on toast. A preserve can also mean an area of land protected for wildlife or nature, like a forest preserve where hunting isn't allowed.

When you preserve something, whether it's leftover food, a precious memory, or an endangered species, you're taking action to make sure it doesn't disappear or get destroyed. The opposite would be letting something decay, fade away, or be forgotten.