Definition of RESCUE

Choose the Right Synonym for rescue

rescue, deliver, redeem, ransom, reclaim, save mean to set free from confinement or danger. rescue implies freeing from imminent danger by prompt or vigorous action. rescued the crew of a sinking ship deliver implies release usually of a person from confinement, temptation, slavery, or suffering. delivered his people from bondage redeem implies releasing from bondage or penalties by giving what is demanded or necessary. job training designed to redeem school dropouts from chronic unemployment ransom specifically applies to buying out of captivity. tried to ransom the kidnap victim reclaim suggests a bringing back to a former state or condition of someone or something abandoned or debased. reclaimed long-abandoned farms save may replace any of the foregoing terms; it may further imply a preserving or maintaining for usefulness or continued existence. an operation that saved my life

Examples of rescue in a Sentence

The survivors were rescued by the Coast Guard. an all-out effort to rescue a beached whale

Recent Examples on the Web

Musk, the billionaire CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, Inc., vowed to help rescue efforts by designing a mini-submarine that could navigate through the cave’s tight canals. — Jennifer Calfas, Time, "Thailand Rescue Officials Say Elon Musk's Submarine Was 'Not Practical'," 10 July 2018 The students were good Samaritans who helped rescue two children caught in the current but then were overcome by the same force, Procopio said. — Jeremy C. Fox, Amelia Nierenberg, BostonGlobe.com, "State officials, families alarmed by spate of drowning deaths," 8 July 2018 Neighbors helped rescue the four survivors, Williams said. — Robert Downen, Houston Chronicle, "Children, 1 and 7, and their grandmother killed in Conroe fire," 9 June 2018 Nine Australians involved in rescuing 12 boys and their 25 -year-old soccer coach were presented with medals at a ceremony Tuesday in the capital Canberra for putting their lives in danger during the treacherous ordeal. — Rod Mcguirk, The Seattle Times, "9 Australians awarded bravery medals for Thai cave rescue," 24 July 2018 And although a number of the divers who helped rescue the boys from the cave were white Europeans, the story is, fundamentally, a Thai story with Thai protagonists; the ex-SEAL who died in the rescue attempt was Thai as well. — Alissa Wilkinson, Vox, "Competing movies about the Thai cave rescue are already in the works," 13 July 2018 The four boys and 25-year-old soccer coach who were brought out Tuesday on the final day of the three-day rescue effort have recovered more quickly than the boys rescued on Sunday and Monday, Chaiwetch said. — Anchorage Daily News, "With V-for-Victory sign, rescued Thai boys celebrate freedom," 12 July 2018 The four boys rescued Sunday can eat normal food and walk around, and the four pulled out Monday were eating soft food. — Kaweewit Kaewjinda, BostonGlobe.com, "Kids rescued in Thailand lost weight, drank dripping water in cave," 11 July 2018 The four boys rescued Sunday can eat normal food and walk around, and the four pulled out Monday were eating soft food. — Kaweewit Kaewjinda, chicagotribune.com, "Hospital: Kids rescued from flooded cave in Thailand lost weight, drank dripping water," 11 July 2018

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