rescue
verb
res·cue ˈre-(ˌ)skyü 
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
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 Barbara Deane 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
ˈre-(ˌ)skyü-ə-bəl
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
James MacGregor Burns rescuer noun
Synonyms
- bail out
- bring off
- deliver
- save
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The survivors were rescued by the Coast Guard. an all-out effort to rescue a beached whale
Recent Examples on the Web Any proposals will face opposition from some Republicans who say the state should not rescue Jackson from its predicament. 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
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
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
Phrases Containing rescue
Kids Definition
rescue 1 of 2
verb
res·cue ˈre-skyü
rescued; rescuing
: to free from danger : save
The family's dog was rescued from the fire.
rescue
2 of 2noun
: an act of freeing someone or something from danger
rescued 1 of 2
adjective
as in saved
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- saved
- retrieved
- salvaged
- reclaimed
- recovered
- restored
- redeemed
- rehabilitated
- rehabbed
- reconditioned
- repeopled
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- rejected
- abandoned
- deserted
- vacated
- forgotten
- forsaken
- ignored
- disused
- derelict
- neglected
- vacant
- desolate
- unattended
- discarded
- void
- untended
- junked
- refuse
- waste
- jettisoned
- castaway
- cast-off
rescued
2 of 2verb
as in salvaged
to remove from danger or harm an all-out effort to rescue a beached whale Synonyms & Similar Words
- saved
- salvaged
- delivered
- recovered
- liberated
- bailed out
- brought off
- freed
- released
- emancipated
- extricated
- disentangled
- manumitted
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- endangered
- risked
- imperiled
- compromised
- jeopardized
- imperilled
- ventured
- hazarded
- periled
- gambled (with)
- perilled
- adventured