rescue

verb

res·​cue ˈre-(ˌ)skyü How to pronounce rescue (audio)
rescued; rescuing

transitive verb

: to free from confinement, danger, or evil : save, deliver
They were rescued from the burning building by firefighters.
… a volunteer group that rescues and nurtures injured and orphaned wildlife …Australian Geographic
(figurative) … the acanthus leaf into which the light fixture on the hall ceiling is set was rescued from a curbside trash heap.Barbara Deane
: such as
a
: to take (someone, such as a prisoner) forcibly from custody
b
: to recover (something, such as a prize) by force
c
: to deliver (a place under siege) by armed force
rescuable adjective
rescue noun
Historians are wary of the notion that, at a critical point in history, a heroic figure, galloping to the rescue, snatches victory from the jaws of defeat … James MacGregor Burns
rescuer noun
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 On Sunday, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, the new world's largest cruise ship that launched in January, rescued 14 people who had been stranded at sea for over a week. Kirsty Hatcher, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024 The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office rescued three people stranded in heavy snow this week after a weekend blizzard unleashed more than 10 feet of snow in the High Sierra amid billowing gusts topping 100 mph. Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2024 In fact, the Houthis may well have been rescued—not for the first time—by a bizarre twist of fate. Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2024 Stocks rescues wounded raptors, and his Owl Adventures is among more than 20 companies licensed to use barn owls in weddings and for educational purposes in Britain. Cathy Free, Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2024 The rescue Earl was rescued by a woman who was walking by as the men were tossing him into the air, according to Jeff Dorson, director of the Human Society of Louisiana. Emilee Coblentz, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2024 Drones, phones, and algorithms Under international law, EU member states and ships are required to rescue people in distress at sea, and hundreds of thousands have been rescued in recent years in the Mediterranean by EU ships and NGOs. Beatrice Tridimas, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Mar. 2024 It was rescued from a demolition site during the pandemic. Lauren Goode, WIRED, 29 Feb. 2024 On Valentine's Day, a trio of Black bear cubs was rescued from a Virginia construction site, per WTVR. Stephanie Gallman Jordan, Southern Living, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rescue.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English rescouen, rescuen, from Anglo-French rescure, from re- + escure to shake off, from Latin excutere, from ex- + quatere to shake

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rescue was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near rescue

Cite this Entry

“Rescue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rescue. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

rescue

verb
res·​cue ˈres-kyü How to pronounce rescue (audio)
rescued; rescuing
: to free from danger or evil : save
rescue noun
rescuer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on rescue

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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