rescue
verb
transitive verb
Australian Geographic Barbara Deane James MacGregor Burns 
Synonyms
- bail out
- bring off
- deliver
- save
Example Sentences
Emily Wagster Pettus, Anchorage Daily News, 2 Sep. 2022 Any proposals will face opposition from some Republicans who say the state should not rescue Jackson from its predicament. Emily Wagster Pettus, ajc, 1 Sep. 2022 The three-hour action epic follows two patriotic but philosophically opposed men (Ram Charan and N.T. Rama Rao Jr.), who team up to rescue a girl from British colonial officials in 1920s Delhi. Clayton Davis, Variety, 17 Aug. 2022 Cheney is on record as wanting to rescue the GOP from the forces of Trumpism. David Faris, The Week, 15 Aug. 2022 French officials had mobilized an ad hoc team of roughly 80 specialists, including wildlife experts, veterinarians and divers to rescue the whale from the river in what became an all-night operation from Tuesday to Wednesday. Sam Schechner, WSJ, 10 Aug. 2022 Its primary purpose is to rescue animals from almost-certain death during resource-poor and often chilly times of year. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 9 Aug. 2022 As season 4 wraps up, Paige and Christopher return, and Preacher has to rescue Paige from Vince, who is holding her at gunpoint. Katie Bowlby, Country Living, 5 Aug. 2022 Bershadker is the president and chief executive of ASPCA (not affiliated with SPCA L.A.), a national organization that works to rescue animals from abuse, pass humane legislation and share resources with shelters across the U.S. Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Middle English rescouen, rescuen, from Anglo-French rescure, from re- + escure to shake off, from Latin excutere, from ex- + quatere to shake
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing rescue
Kids Definition
rescue 1 of 2
verb
rescue
2 of 2noun
rescue 1 of 2
noun
Synonyms & Similar Words
- salvation
- recovery
- redemption
- protection
- deliverance
- extrication
- ransom
- preservation
- safeguard
- security
- safeguarding
- conservation
- defense
- guardianship
- safekeeping
- guard
rescue
2 of 2verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- save
- salvage
- deliver
- bail out
- recover
- liberate
- extricate
- bring off
- free
- release
- emancipate
- disentangle
- manumit
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- adventure
- jeopardize
- venture
- compromise
- risk
- endanger
- hazard
- peril
- gamble (with)
- imperil
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of rescue are deliver, ransom, reclaim, redeem, and save. While all these words mean "to set free from confinement or danger," rescue implies freeing from imminent danger by prompt or vigorous action.
In some situations, the words deliver and rescue are roughly equivalent. However, deliver implies release usually of a person from confinement, temptation, slavery, or suffering.
The synonyms ransom and rescue are sometimes interchangeable, but ransom specifically applies to buying out of captivity.
Although the words reclaim and rescue have much in common, reclaim suggests a bringing back to a former state or condition of someone or something abandoned or debased.
The words redeem and rescue can be used in similar contexts, but redeem implies releasing from bondage or penalties by giving what is demanded or necessary.
The meanings of save and rescue largely overlap; however, save may replace any of the foregoing terms; it may further imply a preserving or maintaining for usefulness or continued existence.