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save

¹

[ seyv ]

/ seɪv /

||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR save ON THESAURUS.COM

WATCH NOW: How Does "Save" Have So Many Definitions?

WATCH NOW: How Does "Save" Have So Many Definitions?

This story about Karen and Karl may just help illustrate that the word "save" can be used in a lot of different ways! In fact, "save" seems to always be here for us when we need it most.

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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.

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.

noun

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.

Nearby words

Origin of save

¹

1175–1225; Middle English sa(u)ven < Old French sauver < Late Latin salvāre to save; see safe

SYNONYMS FOR save

6 store up, husband.

12 economize, hoard.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR save ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

sav·a·ble, save·a·ble, adjectivesav·a·ble·ness, save·a·ble·ness, nounsav·er, nounun·sav·a·ble, adjective

un·save·a·ble, adjectiveun·saved, adjective

Definition for save (2 of 3)

save

²

[ seyv ]

/ seɪv /

preposition

except; but: All the guests had left save one.

conjunction

except; but (usually followed by that): He would have gone, save that he had no means.

Origin of save

²

1250–1300; Middle English; variant of safe

Synonym study

1. See except¹.

Definition for save (3 of 3)

Save

[ sah-vuh ]

/ ˈsɑ və /

noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for save

If the world is going to end, why are evangelicals so busy trying to save it?
The Evangelical Apocalypse Is All Your Fault|Jay Michaelson|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Mills was lying on the sidewalk, dying, right in front of people trained to save him.
Red Tape Is Strangling Good Samaritans|Philip K. Howard|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Like background check laws across the country, it will help keep guns out of dangerous hands, reduce gun crime, and save lives.
The NRA’s Twisted List for Santa|John Feinblatt|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“We started doing this because we want to save lives,” Jonson says.
'Please Don't Die!': The Frantic Battle to Save Murdered Cops|Michael Daly|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Alexander and Adorno were doing what they could to save the officer on the passenger side, Liu.
'Please Don't Die!': The Frantic Battle to Save Murdered Cops|Michael Daly|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The troops had moved on, save the detail singled for police duty.
The Rustler of Wind River|G. W. Ogden
But the watcher made no movement, nor could I hear a sound, save that of the rising wind playing its dirge through the woods.
In Hostile Red|Joseph Altsheler
We have seen that the British could not save the lighthouse.
The Siege of Boston|Allen French
Though he had nobody to save for, he laid up at least as much as he spent.
Critical and Historical Essays, Volume III (of 3)|Thomas Babington Macaulay
I would have given it to her with both hands to save her from this.
Annajanska, the Bolshevik Empress|George Bernard Shaw

British Dictionary definitions for save (1 of 2)

save

¹

/ (seɪv) /

verb

(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 degenerationuse a good light to save your eyes

(tr) to prevent the necessity for; obviate the trouble ofgood 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

noun

sport the act of saving a goal

computing an instruction to write information from the memory onto a tape or disk

Derived Formssavable or saveable, adjectivesavableness or saveableness, nounsaver, noun

Word Origin for save

C13: from Old French salver, via Late Latin from Latin salvus safe

British Dictionary definitions for save (2 of 2)

save

²

/ (seɪv) archaic, or literary /

preposition

Also: saving (often foll by for) with the exception of

conjunction

but; except

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 (1 of 3)

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.

Word Origin and History for save (1 of 3)

save

n.

in the sports sense of "act of preventing opponent from scoring," 1890, from save (v.).

Word Origin and History for save (2 of 3)

save

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.).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Idioms and Phrases with save

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

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.