Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for save on Thesaurus.com verb (used with object), saved, sav·ing. to rescue from danger or possible harm, injury, or loss: to save someone from drowning. to keep safe, intact, or unhurt; safeguard; preserve: God save the king. to keep from being lost: to save the game. to avoid the spending, consumption, or waste of: to save fuel. to keep, as for reuse: to save leftovers for tomorrow's dinner. to set aside, reserve, or lay by: to save money. to treat carefully in order to reduce wear, fatigue, etc.: to save one's eyes by reading under proper light. to prevent the occurrence, use, or necessity of; obviate: to come early in order to save waiting. Theology to deliver from the power and consequences of sin. Computers to copy (a file) from RAM onto a disk or other storage medium. Sports to stop (a ball or puck) from entering one's goal. Show More
verb (used without object), saved, sav·ing. to lay up money as the result of economy or thrift. to be economical in expenditure. to preserve something from harm, injury, loss, etc. to admit of being kept without spoiling, as food. Show More
an act or instance of saving, especially in sports. Baseball a statistical credit given a relief pitcher for preserving a team's victory by holding its lead in a game. Show More
Origin of save 1 1175–1225; Middle English sa(u)ven <
Old French sauver <
Late Latin salvāre to save; see
safe Related forms sav·a·ble , save·a·ble , adjective sav·a·ble·ness , save·a·ble·ness , noun sav·er , noun un·sav·a·ble , adjective un·save·a·ble , adjective un·saved , adjective except; but: All the guests had left save one. Show More
except; but (usually followed by that ): He would have gone, save that he had no means. Show More
Origin of save 2 1250–1300; Middle English; variant of
safe Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for save deliver ,
recover ,
salvage ,
free ,
manage ,
keep ,
collect ,
maintain ,
spare ,
conserve ,
store ,
preserve ,
shield ,
sustain ,
ransom ,
spring ,
defend ,
extricate ,
redeem ,
liberate Examples from the Web for save Contemporary Examples of save If the world is going to end, why are evangelicals so busy trying to save it?
Mills was lying on the sidewalk, dying, right in front of people trained to save him.
Like background check laws across the country, it will help keep guns out of dangerous hands, reduce gun crime, and save lives.
“We started doing this because we want to save lives,” Jonson says.
Alexander and Adorno were doing what they could to save the officer on the passenger side, Liu.
Historical Examples of save For one thing Fred sha'n't get into that kind of muss if I can save him from it.
And she never so much as dreamt that he would cast an eye on her save in kindness.
Were all the events of life combining to ruin or to save him?
He bore still around him the rope that was to save the rest.
Tell me, Jesse, tell your friend, who came into the world to save sinners?
British Dictionary definitions for save (tr) to rescue, preserve, or guard (a person or thing) from danger or harm to avoid the spending, waste, or loss of (money, possessions, etc) (tr) to deliver from sin; redeem (often foll by up) to set aside or reserve (money, goods, etc) for future use (tr) to treat with care so as to avoid or lessen wear or degeneration use a good light to save your eyes (tr) to prevent the necessity for; obviate the trouble of good work now will save future revision (tr) sport to prevent (a goal) by stopping (a struck ball or puck) (intr) mainly US (of food) to admit of preservation; keep Show More
sport the act of saving a goal computing an instruction to write information from the memory onto a tape or disk Show More
Derived Forms savable or saveable , adjective savableness or saveableness , noun saver , noun Word Origin for save C13: from Old French salver, via Late Latin from Latin salvus safe
Also: saving (often foll by for) with the exception of Show More
Word Origin for save C13 sauf, from Old French, from Latin salvō, from salvus safe
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for save v. c.1200, "to deliver from some danger; rescue from peril, bring to safety," also "prevent the death of;" also theological, "to deliver from sin or its consequences; admit to eternal life; gain salvation," from Old French sauver "keep (safe), protect, redeem," from Late Latin salvare "make safe, secure," from Latin salvus "safe" (see safe (adj.)). From c.1300 as "reserve for future use, hold back, store up instead of spending;" hence "keep possession of" (late 14c.).
Save face (1898) first was used among the British community in China and is said to be from Chinese; it has not been found in Chinese, but tiu lien "to lose face" does occur. To not (do something) to save one's life is recorded from 1848. To save (one's) breath "cease talking or arguing" is from 1926.
Show More
n. in the sports sense of "act of preventing opponent from scoring," 1890, from save (v.).
Show More
prep. "except," early 14c., from adjective save , which also was an early variant of safe (adj.), paralleling evolution in Old French sauf "safe," prepositional use of the adjective, in phrases such as saulve l'honneur "save (our) honor;" also a use in Latin (salva lege , etc.).
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with save In addition to the idioms beginning with save
saved by the bell save face save for a rainy day save one's bacon save one's breath save the day save up also see:
penny saved is a penny earned rainy day, save for a scrimp and save to save one's life Show More
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
