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Rescue

v. kind, resilient register not recorded

What it means

Meaning 1

To save a person, animal, or thing from danger, loss, or confinement.

Reach for it when describing timely action that brings someone or something to safety

The crew rescued three kayakers before the current reached the gorge.

Meaning 2

To prevent a plan, organization, or result from failing.

Reach for it when describing corrective action that preserves valuable work

A smaller venue rescued the festival after the storm damaged the field.

Words to choose between 9

By register, from playful at the top to literary at the bottom, and by meaning across. Tap a word to see when it fits.
Meaning 1Meaning 2
playful
everyday
warm
professional
formal

Meaning 1: To save a person, animal, or thing from danger, loss, or confinement.

  • everyday

    save

    Fits when preventing death, loss, or failure is the broad point

    Careful Save is broader and lacks rescue's movement out of danger.

  • professional

    evacuate

    Fits when moving people from a hazardous place is precise

    Careful Evacuation is preventive and may precede any distress.

  • professional

    retrieve

    Fits when locating and bringing back someone or something is central

    Careful Retrieval can occur without danger.

  • formal

    liberate

    Fits when release from unjust confinement is intended

    Careful Liberate carries political force and may overstate a routine rescue.

Meaning 2: To prevent a plan, organization, or result from failing.

  • playful

    turn around

    Fits when reversing decline fits an informal business tone

    Careful A turnaround implies broader performance change.

  • warm

    revive

    Fits when restoring activity keeps a project alive

    Careful Revive does not describe removal from immediate danger.

  • professional

    recover

    Fits when returning lost ground or material matters

    Careful Recovery may happen naturally without rescuing action.

  • professional

    salvage

    Fits when saving useful value from damage is the aim

    Careful Salvage often accepts partial recovery and sounds impersonal for people.

  • formal

    preserve

    Fits when protecting continued existence is central

    Careful Preservation may be passive and need no urgent intervention.

Opposites 4

  • endanger
  • abandon
  • doom
  • squander

Common phrases 4

  • rescue a swimmer

    The lifeguard entered the channel to rescue a swimmer.

  • rescue operation

    The rescue operation used local boats familiar with the shoals.

  • rescue the project

    A clear smaller scope helped rescue the project.

  • last-minute rescue

    A donated generator provided a last-minute rescue for the vaccine store.

Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated