Salvaged
/ˈsælvɪdʒd/
verbB2past tense
Definition
To salvage something means to rescue or save it from being lost, broken, or destroyed. People often use this word when talking about saving things from accidents, disasters, or failures. It can also mean taking parts from damaged objects to use again.
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See It in Action
To save something valuable from destruction or loss
- •The firefighters salvaged some furniture from the burning house.
- •After the flood, the workers salvaged important documents from the water.
- •The crew salvaged the cargo from the sunken ship.
To take useful parts from damaged or old objects
- •He salvaged parts from the broken car to fix another one.
- •They salvaged wood from the old building to use in new construction.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "salvaged" like "saved," but especially when something was almost lost or broken.
- ✓Picture a person pulling a wet book out of a flooded room, trying to keep it safe.
- ✓It's the feeling of relief when you find something useful after a problem or accident.
- ✓Sounds like "SALV-ij" → imagine a "salve" (healing cream) saving a hurt place; "salvage" saves damaged things.
- ✓Think of stories where people save treasures from shipwrecks or fires—that is salvaging.
- ✓NOT like "find" (which can be new or lost things), "salvage" means saving something that was in danger.
- ✓NOT like "repair" (fixing something broken), "salvage" is about saving what is left, even if it's not perfect.
- ✓NOT like "throw away," which means to lose or discard, "salvage" means to keep and save.
Try Other Words
- •Rescued: saved from danger (Use when focusing on saving people or animals, or things in danger)
- •Recovered: got back something lost (Use when emphasizing getting something back, not just saving it)
- •Retrieved: brought something back (Use when focusing on finding and bringing back something)
- •Saved: kept safe (Use for general saving, less focused on damage or danger)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "salv-" (related to saving or health) + "-age" (a noun suffix), here used as a verb form "salvage" with past tense "-ed"
- •Etymology: From Old French "salvage" meaning wild or untamed, later from Latin "salvare" meaning to save or heal
- •Historical development: Originally related to saving or healing; by the 1600s used for saving goods from damage, especially from shipwrecks
- •Modern usage: Used for saving goods, materials, or information from harm or loss, often after accidents or disasters
Reflect & Connect
•What kinds of things in your life might you try to salvage after a problem or accident?
•How does the idea of salvaging show hope or effort in difficult situations?
Fill in the blanks
1.After the storm, the workers salvaged ___ from the damaged buildings to reuse.
2.The company salvaged important data ___ the computer crash.
3.She salvaged what she could from the broken vase, but ___ was lost.
4.Salvaged items are often ___ or not in perfect condition.
5.Unlike throwing away, salvaged goods are ___ to be useful again.
6.They salvaged the old parts ___ repairing the new machine.
7.When a ship sinks, crews try to salvage ___ before everything is lost.