conserve

1 of 2

verb

con·​serve kən-ˈsərv 

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

conserver noun

conserve

2 of 2

noun

con·​serve ˈkän-ˌsərv 

1

: sweetmeat

especially : a candied fruit

2

: preserve

specifically : one prepared from a mixture of fruits

Synonyms

Verb

• preserve
• protect

Examples of conserve in a Sentence

Verb

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 on the Web

Verb

There is probably no better example of a shortstop conserving his throwing arm than the one who left town Thursday night, Texas Rangers star Corey Seager. —Mike Digiovanna, Oc Register, 13 July 2025

Suggesting that extinction can be reversed through technology risks undermining the urgency of conserving existing species and ecosystems, critics say. —Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 9 July 2025

Noun

Assenza is a master of preserving and transforming fruit into delicious conserves and marmalades. —Ben Mims, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2023

Her cranberry conserve? —Amiel Stanek, Bon Appétit, 25 Oct. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English conserven "to maintain in good condition, preserve, protect, keep," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French conserver "to preserve" (also continental Middle French), borrowed from Latin conservāre "to save or keep from danger, preserve, keep unchanged," from con- con- + servāre "to watch over, guard, keep, observe (a law, custom), maintain in existence, preserve," probably derivative of an abstract noun *seru̯om or *seru̯ā "observation, guarding," formed from the Indo-European verbal base *ser- "keep watch on, guard" and a nominal suffix *-u̯o- — more at serve entry 1

Noun

Middle English, "medicinal preparation, sweetmeat," borrowed from Middle French, "preserved food product," noun derivative of conserver "to maintain, preserve, conserve entry 1"

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for conserve

• deserve
• manoeuvre
• observe
• preserve
• reserve
• subserve
• curve
• mirv
• nerve
• serve
• swerve
• verve

Kids Definition

conserve

1 of 2 verb

con·​serve kən-ˈsərv 

conserved; conserving

1

a

: to keep in a safe or sound state

b

: to avoid wasteful or destructive use of : use carefully

conserve natural resources

conserve energy

2

: to preserve with sugar

3

: to keep (a quantity) constant during a process of change (as chemical change)

conserver noun

conserve

2 of 2 noun

con·​serve ˈkän-ˌsərv 

1

: a candied fruit

2

: preserve entry 2 sense 1

Medical Definition

conserve

1 of 2 noun

con·​serve ˈkän-ˌsərv 

: an obsolete medicinal preparation made by mixing undried vegetable drugs with sufficient powdered sugar to form a soft mass compare confection

conserve

2 of 2 transitive verb

con·​serve kən-ˈsərv 

conserved; conserving

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

a DNA sequence that has been conserved