Preserve vs. Reserve: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on November 20, 2023
Preserve means to maintain or protect something in its original state, while reserve refers to setting something aside for future use or special purpose.
Key Differences
Preserve and Reserve in Context of Food: When talking about food, preserve means to prepare food in a way that extends its shelf life, like making jams or pickles. Reserve in food context can refer to keeping a portion of food or ingredients aside for a particular purpose or occasion.
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Preserve and Reserve in Usage: In the context of resources, to preserve means to protect or maintain them in a sustainable manner, ensuring their longevity. To reserve means to keep resources or spaces aside for specific or later use, often implying controlled access.
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Preserve and Reserve in Terms of Availability: Preserving something often means it remains accessible in its preserved state, like preserving cultural heritage. Reserving something can mean it is kept unavailable or restricted for general use until a certain time, like reserving a table at a restaurant.
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Preserve and Reserve in Conservation: Preserve often implies maintaining something in its original or existing state, as in nature preserves where habitats are protected. Reserve, however, can mean setting aside resources or areas for a specific future use, like wildlife reserves where land is designated for conservation but might be used differently in the future.
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Preserve and Reserve in Planning: Preservation activities are generally aimed at maintaining the status quo or safeguarding against change. Reserving involves planning for future use, ensuring that resources or spaces are available when needed.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Objective
To protect and maintain existing state
To set aside for future use or specific purpose
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Usage in Conservation
Focus on protecting habitats or traditions
Designating areas or resources for later use
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Context in Resources
Sustainable maintenance of resources
Keeping resources aside for specific use
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Application in Food
Extending shelf life of food products
Keeping food or ingredients aside
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Planning Implication
Aiming to safeguard and maintain status quo
Planning and allocation for future availability
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Preserve and Reserve Definitions
Preserve
Prepare food to prevent decay.
She made strawberry preserves every summer.
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Reserve
Refrain from using something immediately.
He reserved his judgment until he had all the facts.
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Preserve
Maintain or keep alive a tradition or custom.
They preserve their cultural heritage through festivals.
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Reserve
Keep back or save for a special occasion.
They have a bottle of wine reserved for their anniversary.
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Reserve
Arrange for a space to be kept available.
She reserved a table at their favorite restaurant.
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Preserve
To keep in perfect or unaltered condition; maintain unchanged
Fossils preserved in sediments.
A film preserved in the archives.
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Reserve
To keep back, as for future use or for a special purpose
The hospital reserves certain drugs for the most serious cases.
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Reserve
To set or cause to be set apart for a particular person or use
Reserved a seat on the next flight out.
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Preserve
To prepare (food) for storage or future use, as by canning or salting.
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Reserve
Something kept back or saved for future use or a special purpose
A runner with a reserve of energy for the final lap.
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Preserve
To prevent (organic bodies) from decaying or spoiling
Preserved the specimen in a chemical solution.
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Reserve
An amount of capital that is not invested or otherwise used in order to meet probable demands, such as withdrawals by bank depositors or claims on insurance policies.
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Preserve
To protect (wildlife or natural resources) in a designated area, often for regulated hunting or fishing.
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Reserve
Lack of enthusiasm, as from a misgiving or doubt
Supported the idea without reserve.
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Preserve
To maintain (an area) for the protection of wildlife or natural resources.
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Reserve
Self-restraint in expression or bearing; reticence or coolness
Maintained a dignified reserve throughout the ceremony.
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Preserve
To maintain an area for the protection of wildlife or natural resources.
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Reserve
An amount of a mineral, fossil fuel, or other resource known to exist in a particular location and to be exploitable
The discovery of large oil reserves.
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Preserve
Often preserves Fruit cooked with sugar to protect against decay or fermentation.
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Reserve
The part of a country's armed forces not on active duty but subject to call in an emergency.
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Preserve
An area maintained for the protection of wildlife or natural resources.
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Preserve
Something considered as being the exclusive province of certain persons
Ancient Greek is the preserve of scholars.
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Reserve
A group of players that play only as substitutes for starters in games or are kept from playing for some reason.
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Preserve
To protect; to keep from harm or injury.
Every people have the right to preserve its identity and culture.
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Reserve
The act of reserving or keeping back; reservation; exception.
The book is on reserve.
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Preserve
To save from decay by the use of some preservative substance, such as sugar or salt; to season and prepare (fruits, meat, etc.) for storage.
To preserve peaches or grapes
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Reserve
Restraint of freedom in words or actions; backwardness; caution in personal behavior.
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Preserve
To maintain throughout; to keep intact.
To preserve appearances; to preserve silence
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Preserve
To keep or save from injury or destruction; to guard or defend from evil, harm, danger, etc.; to protect.
O Lord, thou preserved man and beast.
Now, good angels preserve the king.
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Reserve
A natural resource known to exist but not currently exploited.
New oil reserves are continuously being discovered, but not as fast as the existing ones are running out.
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Preserve
To save from decay by the use of some preservative substance, as sugar, salt, etc.; to season and prepare for remaining in a good state, as fruits, meat, etc.; as, to preserve peaches or grapes.
You can not preserve it from tainting.
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Reserve
A tract of land reserved, or set apart, for a particular purpose
The Connecticut Reserve in Ohio was originally set apart for the school fund of Connecticut.
The Clergy Reserves in Canada are for the support of the clergy.
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Preserve
To maintain throughout; to keep intact; as, to preserve appearances; to preserve silence.
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Reserve
(Canada) A tract of land set apart for the use of an Aboriginal group; Indian reserve (compare US reservation.)
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Reserve
(military) A body of troops kept in the rear of an army drawn up for battle, reserved to support the other lines as occasion may require; a force or body of troops kept for an exigency.
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Reserve
Funds kept on hand to meet planned or unplanned financial requirements.
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Preserve
That which is preserved; fruit, etc., seasoned and kept by suitable preparation; esp., fruit cooked with sugar; - commonly in the plural.
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Preserve
A place in which game, fish, etc., are preserved for purposes of sport, or for food.
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Preserve
A domain that seems to be specially reserved for someone;
Medicine is no longer a male preserve
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Reserve
(ceramics) Absence of color or decoration; the state of being left plain.
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Reserve
(social) Something initially kept back for later use in a recreation.
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Reserve
(sports) A member of a team who does not participate from the start of the game, but can be used to replace tired or injured team-mates.
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Preserve
Keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last;
Preserve the peace in the family
Continue the family tradition
Carry on the old traditions
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Reserve
(card games) A group or pile of cards dealt out at the beginning of a patience or solitaire game to be used during play.
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Preserve
Keep in safety and protect from harm, decay, loss, or destruction;
We preserve these archeological findings
The old lady could not keep up the building
Children must be taught to conserve our national heritage
The museum curator conserved the ancient manuscripts
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Reserve
In exhibitions, a distinction indicating that the recipient will get a prize in the event of another person being disqualified.
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Preserve
To keep up and reserve for personal or special use;
She saved the old family photographs in a drawer
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Reserve
A preparation used on an object being electroplated to fix the limits of the deposit.
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Reserve
To keep back; to retain.
We reserve the right to make modifications.
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Preserve
Keep undisturbed for personal or private use for hunting, shooting, or fishing;
Preserve the forest and the lakes
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Reserve
To keep in store for future or special use.
This cake is reserved for the guests!
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Preserve
Maintain something in its original or existing state.
Efforts to preserve the rainforest are critical.
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Reserve
To book in advance; to make a reservation.
I reserved a table for us at the best restaurant in town.
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Preserve
Keep safe from harm or injury.
Historic landmarks need to be preserved.
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Preserve
Protect an ecological or natural area.
The wildlife preserve is home to many endangered species.
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Reserve
Hence, to keep in store for future or special use; to withhold from present use for another purpose or time; to keep; to retain; to make a reservation{7}.
Hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, which I have reserved against the time of trouble?
Reserve your kind looks and language for private hours.
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Reserve
The act of reserving, or keeping back; reservation.
However any one may concur in the general scheme, it is still with certain reserves and deviations.
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Reserve
That which is reserved, or kept back, as for future use.
The virgins, besides the oil in their lamps, carried likewise a reserve in some other vessel for a continual supply.
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Reserve
That which is excepted; exception.
Each has some darling lust, which pleads for a reserve.
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Reserve
Restraint of freedom in words or actions; backwardness; caution in personal behavior.
My soul, surprised, and from her sex disjoined,Left all reserve, and all the sex, behind.
The clergyman's shy and sensitive reserve had balked this scheme.
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Reserve
A tract of land reserved, or set apart, for a particular purpose; as, the Connecticut Reserve in Ohio, originally set apart for the school fund of Connecticut; the Clergy Reserves in Canada, for the support of the clergy.
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Reserve
A body of troops in the rear of an army drawn up for battle, reserved to support the other lines as occasion may require; a force or body of troops kept for an exigency.
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Reserve
That part of the assets of a bank or other financial institution specially kept in cash in a more or less liquid form as a reasonable provision for meeting all demands which may be made upon it;
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Reserve
In exhibitions, a distinction which indicates that the recipient will get a prize if another should be disqualified.
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Reserve
A preparation used on an object being electroplated to fix the limits of the deposit.
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Reserve
An athlete who plays only when another member of the team drops out
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Reserve
(medicine) potential capacity to respond in order to maintain vital functions
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Reserve
Armed forces that are not on active duty but can be called in an emergency
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Reserve
The trait of being uncommunicative; not volunteering anything more than necessary
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Reserve
Hold back or set aside, especially for future use or contingency;
They held back their applause in anticipation
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Reserve
Give or assign a share of money or time to a particular person or cause;
I will earmark this money for your research
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Reserve
Obtain or arrange (for oneself) in advance;
We managed to reserve a table at Maxim's
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Reserve
Arrange for and reserve (something for someone else) in advance;
Reserve me a seat on a flight
The agent booked tickets to the show for the whole family
Please hold a table at Maxim's
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Reserve
Kept in reserve especially for emergency use;
A reserve supply of food
A spare tire
Spare parts
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Reserve
Set something aside for future use.
They reserve a portion of their earnings for retirement.
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Reserve
An area set aside for a specific purpose.
The nature reserve is a sanctuary for wildlife.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
What is an example of preserving food?
Making jams, pickles, or drying fruits are examples.
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Can you preserve a tradition?
Yes, by maintaining and practicing it over time.
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What does it mean to reserve a room?
It means to arrange for the room to be kept available for use.
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Is a nature preserve the same as a wildlife reserve?
Not exactly; a nature preserve focuses on protecting habitats, while a wildlife reserve may also be used for future conservation projects.
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Why do we preserve historical sites?
To protect them and maintain their historical significance.
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Can reserve be used in emergencies?
Yes, resources can be reserved for use in emergency situations.
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What does it mean to preserve something?
To keep it in its original or existing state, protecting it from change.
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How is reserve used in context?
It refers to setting something aside for future use or a special purpose.
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How does reserving a seat work?
It involves arranging in advance for a seat to be available for use.
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What does it mean to reserve judgment?
It means to withhold forming an opinion until more information is available.
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Can you reserve time?
Yes, by setting aside specific time for a particular activity or purpose.
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How do preserves benefit wildlife?
They provide safe habitats and protect species from threats.
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What’s the purpose of a water preserve?
To protect water sources and maintain their quality and sustainability.
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What does a military reserve do?
It consists of trained soldiers who can be called to active duty when needed.
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Can anyone create a preserve?
It typically requires authority or ownership and a commitment to conservation.
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Is preserving nature important?
Absolutely, it's crucial for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystems.
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What are reserved powers?
Powers that are not explicitly granted to one authority and are thus reserved for another, often seen in governmental contexts.
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Is it possible to reserve something indefinitely?
It depends on the context, but generally, reserves are for a specific duration.
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Can you reserve rights?
Yes, you can declare certain rights to be held back for specific use.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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