saving

American  

[sey-ving] / ˈseɪ vɪŋ /

adjective

1. tending or serving to save; rescuing; preserving.

2. compensating; redeeming.

   a saving sense of humor.

   Synonyms:

   redemptory

3. thrifty; economical.

   a saving housekeeper.

4. making a reservation.

   a saving clause.

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noun

1. a reduction or lessening of expenditure or outlay.

   a saving of 10 percent.

2. something that is saved.

3. savings, sums of money saved by economy and laid away.

4. Law. a reservation or exception.

preposition

1. except.

   Nothing remains saving these ruins.

2. with all due respect to or for.

   saving your presence.

conjunction

1. except; save.

saving British  

/ ˈseɪvɪŋ /

adjective

1. tending to save or preserve

2. redeeming or compensating (esp in the phrase saving grace )

3. thrifty or economical

4. law denoting or relating to an exception or reservation

   a saving clause in an agreement

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noun

1. preservation or redemption, esp from loss or danger

2. economy or avoidance of waste

3. reduction in cost or expenditure

   a saving of 100 dollars

4. anything saved

5. (plural) money saved for future use

6. law an exception or reservation

preposition

1. with the exception of

conjunction

1. except

Other Word Forms

• nonsaving
  adjective
• savingly
  adverb
• unsaving
  adjective
• unsavingly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of saving

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at save ¹, -ing ², -ing ¹

Example Sentences

The results of a project carried out in Nice and along the French Riviera show why anticipation and preventive evacuation measures remain the only truly effective means of saving lives.

From Science Daily • May 21, 2026

The successful pooch will replace the world-famous Bear, credited with saving over 100 koalas from bushfires during a decade of service.

From Barron's • May 20, 2026

Biel, Switzerland-based Swatch is led by the family of Nicolas Hayek, credited with saving Swiss watchmaking in the 1980s from the threat of low-cost quartz models from Japan.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

When Pew asked people 65 and older what advice they would give younger people, 37% emphasized financial habits like saving money, investing and living frugally.

From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026

And maybe that’s what explains her determined friendship, the idea that I need help or saving.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

Related Words

• preserving