rescued

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "rescued" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is used to describe the act of saving someone or something from a dangerous or difficult situation. Example: The firefighters rescued the trapped family from the burning building.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Opinion

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We do not know if the Chibok girls can be rescued.

The Guardian

She is repeatedly rescued, but always by men or by chance – she never escape catastrophe thanks to her own ingenuity.

The Guardian - Film

Rescued migrants are supposed to be processed in the country they first arrive in.

The Guardian

Benson, like many local fishermen, believes it was the negligence not only of the gangmasters but also of the authorities that was responsible for the tragedy: "In the summer of 2003, I rescued 50 to 60 Chinese folk who were stranded while cockling for a gangmaster … That should have been a warning".

The Guardian - Opinion

Beckenbauer promptly took off his draftsman, Magath, and brought on the old battering ram, Hoeness, who in the past had rescued the Germans from such fraught situations.

The Guardian - Sport

Last week a group of men with learning disabilities was rescued from a brick kiln in central China.

The Guardian - Opinion

Herrick returns not with lip-smacking vengeance but edgy vulnerability, rescued from the psych-ward and taking up residence as the mad vampire in the attic.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

But my wife rescued me once the shaking got quiet.

The Guardian

With smoke still rising from the ruins of Krásna Hôrka on Monday, police announced that the most precious collections and documents had been rescued from the flames.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Irish people's anger and disillusionment may have thrown a lifeline to Sinn Féin and rescued the party from total irrelevance in the Republic but its united Ireland project is more unrealisable than ever.

The Guardian

Updated at 11.43pm AEST Facebook Twitter Google plus Share Share this post Facebook Twitter Google plus close 8.13pm AEST11:13 Romania has rescued us from Carl, the Norwegian, who drowned in his own pathos.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rescued" when emphasizing the act of saving someone or something from immediate danger or a difficult situation. It implies a successful intervention in a crisis.

Common error

Avoid using "rescued" when a simpler term like "helped" or "assisted" would suffice. "Rescued" carries a strong connotation of danger, so it's best reserved for scenarios where a significant threat was involved.

Linguistic Context

The word "rescued" functions primarily as a past participle or adjective. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes an action of saving someone or something from danger or difficulty. It often modifies a noun, indicating that the noun has been saved from a perilous situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Sport

20%

Opinion

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Travel

5%

Arts

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "rescued" is a very common and grammatically sound past participle and adjective, primarily used to convey the successful act of saving someone or something from immediate danger. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, it is appropriate for describing interventions in crisis situations. While broadly applicable, it's important to reserve "rescued" for scenarios involving genuine peril, avoiding overuse in less critical contexts where words like "helped" or "assisted" would be more fitting. Usage analysis shows that "rescued" appears frequently in news, sports, and opinion pieces. Alternative terms such as "saved", "freed", and "recovered" can provide nuance depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

saved

A more general term for preventing harm or loss; lacks the implication of imminent danger.

freed

Emphasizes liberation from captivity or confinement, differing from the broader saving context.

liberated

Similar to "freed", but often implies a larger-scale or political context of release.

extricated

Highlights the difficulty of freeing someone from a trap or entanglement.

salvaged

Implies saving something from wreckage or ruin, more specific than the general sense of saving.

recovered

Focuses on regaining something lost or stolen, deviating from the sense of saving from danger.

extracted

Suggests a careful or difficult removal from a particular place or situation, rather than just saving.

delivered

Emphasizes the act of bringing someone to safety, often from a perilous journey.

ransomed

Indicates a release obtained through payment, which is a specific type of rescue.

redeemed

Implies saving someone or something from a negative state or condition, adding a moral dimension.

FAQs

How is "rescued" different from "saved"?

"Rescued" implies a more immediate danger and a dramatic intervention, while "saved" can refer to preventing harm in a broader sense. You might "rescue" someone from a burning building, but you could "save" money for retirement.

What are some alternatives to the word "rescued"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "saved", "freed", "liberated", or "recovered". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "rescued" in a metaphorical sense?

Yes, "rescued" can be used metaphorically to describe saving something from oblivion or ruin. For example, "The historian "rescued" the author's reputation from obscurity."

Can "rescued" be used in passive voice?

Yes, "rescued" is often used in the passive voice. For example, "The sailors were "rescued" by a passing ship."