conserve

verb con·serve \ kən-ˈsərv \

|Updated on: 18 Jun 2018

Examples: conserve in a Sentence

Definition of conserve

conserved; conserving

transitive verb

1 : to keep in a safe or sound state

He conserved his inheritance.

; especially : to avoid wasteful or destructive use of

conserve natural resources

conserve our wildlife

2 : to preserve with sugar

3 : to maintain (a quantity) constant during a process of chemical, physical, or evolutionary change

conserved DNA sequences

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conserver

noun

See conserve defined for English-language learners

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Examples of conserve in a Sentence

With so little rain, everyone had to conserve water.
We need to conserve our natural resources.
Don't run around too much—you need to conserve your strength.

Recent Examples of conserve from the Web

In the late 1960s, Black started the Little Miami Conservancy, which is dedicated to conserving the natural splendor of the Little Miami River.

— sharon coolidge, Cincinnati.com, "Helen Black, conservationist who founded Nature Center, saved Union Terminal, dead at 94," 12 June 2018
The second would allow more access and be less restrictive but still have a priority of conserving ecological values.

— eric barker, The Seattle Times, "Couples win bid for chunk of the Palouse," 10 June 2018
Sauter, the series' points leader, benefited with a couple late cautions that allowed him to conserve fuel to secure the 21st truck victory of his career.

— drew davison, star-telegram, "Johnny Sauter wins truck race No. 5 at Texas Motor Speedway," 8 June 2018
Water heaters should be set to 120 degrees, and an insulation blanket can conserve some of that heat.

— greg larose, NOLA.com, "Entergy warns customers with tips to avoid high bills in hot weather," 5 June 2018
In 1989 the government’s urban redevelopment authority started conserving buildings, particularly pretty colonial-era shophouses and areas such as Little India.

— The Economist, "Singapore’s Brutalist past could soon be gone," 31 May 2018
This enhances awareness and empathy as well as conserving capital.

— NBC News, "#Pride30: Entrepreneur Helen Russell is mixing business with social responsibility," 31 May 2018
Local governments in many other cities reduced public transport to conserve fuel.

— CNN, "Brazil's President concedes to striking truckers' demands after week-long work stoppage," 28 May 2018
Dern plays off of that burgeoning self-assuredness, fully believable as the determined, accomplished woman that young girl has become, but still conserving the vulnerability of someone who doesn't want to believe they've been hurt.

— refinery29.com, "The Tale Review: A #MeToo Movie Worthy Of The Label," 21 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'conserve.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of conserve

Middle English, from Middle French conserver, from Latin conservare, from com- + servare to keep, guard, observe; akin to Avestan haurvaiti he guards

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First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year