rescue
B1Neutral (used across all registers)
Definition
Meaning
To save someone or something from a dangerous or distressing situation.
Can refer to saving from any kind of trouble or undesirable state; also used for the act of saving or the people/group who perform it.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Strongly implies danger, urgency, and an agent performing the action. Often paired with 'from'. Both a verb and a count/non-count noun.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor differences in collocational frequency (e.g., 'rescue services' slightly more common in UK, 'rescue team' in US). Spelling identical.
Connotations
Primarily positive connotations in both varieties. In informal US contexts, can be used more lightly (e.g., 'Can you rescue me from this boring party?').
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties, with near-identical usage patterns.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
rescue somebody/somethingrescue somebody/something from somethingbe rescued by somebody/somethingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “come/go to the rescue”
- “a rescue mission”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to saving a failing company or project (e.g., 'a corporate rescue plan').
Academic
Used in historical/social contexts (e.g., 'the rescue of archival documents') or psychology (e.g., 'heroic rescue fantasies').
Everyday
Common for saving people/animals from accidents, fires, or difficult situations.
Technical
Specific use in computing/data recovery ('data rescue'), emergency services, and mountaineering.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The lifeboat crew rescued the sailors from the sinking vessel.
- She managed to rescue her notes from the cluttered hard drive.
American English
- Firefighters rescued the family from the burning building.
- I need you to rescue me from this terrible meeting.
adjective
British English
- The rescue helicopter arrived within twenty minutes.
- She works for a marine rescue organisation.
American English
- The rescue team deployed immediately after the earthquake.
- He's part of the urban search and rescue unit.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The dog was rescued from the river.
- The fireman rescued the cat.
- The coastguard launched a rescue operation for the stranded boat.
- They tried to rescue the old documents from the flooded basement.
- The dramatic mountain rescue was covered by news crews from around the world.
- Investors stepped in at the last minute to rescue the failing company.
- The controversial policy was an attempt to rescue the government's plummeting approval ratings.
- Archaeologists worked meticulously to rescue the fragile artefacts from the collapsing site.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: RESt CUE – imagine someone resting on a pool cue after being saved from drowning.
Conceptual Metaphor
DANGER IS A TRAP/CAPTIVITY; RESCUING IS LIBERATING/FREEING FROM CAPTIVITY.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'спасать' in non-danger contexts (e.g., 'rescue time' is wrong for 'сэкономить время').
- Don't use 'rescue' for saving money or objects from minor loss (use 'save' or 'retrieve').
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'They rescued to buy a new car.' (Wrong context) Correct: 'They saved up to buy a new car.'
- Incorrect: 'He rescued from the fire.' (Missing object) Correct: 'He was rescued from the fire.'
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely context for the word 'rescue'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it can be used for animals, objects, data, and abstract concepts like a situation or reputation.
'Rescue' implies a more immediate, active intervention from a specific danger or entrapment. 'Save' is broader and can include prevention (save money, save time) and long-term salvation.
Yes, it is commonly used as both a count noun ('a daring rescue') and a non-count noun ('awaiting rescue').
Yes. The correct pattern is 'rescue someone/something FROM something'. Omitting 'from' or using a different preposition is a common error.