save

1 of 4

verb

saved; saving

transitive verb

1
a
: to deliver from sin
b
: to rescue or deliver from danger or harm
c
: to preserve or guard from injury, destruction, or loss
d
: to store (data) in a computer or on a storage device (such as a CD or flash drive)
save a file
Remember to save your work frequently.
2
a
: to put aside as a store or reserve : accumulate
saving money for emergencies
b
: to spend less by
save 25 percent
3
a
: to make unnecessary : avoid
it saves an hour's driving
b(1)
: to keep from being lost to an opponent
(2)
: to prevent an opponent from scoring or winning
4
: maintain, preserve
save appearances

intransitive verb

1
: to rescue or deliver someone
2
a
: to put aside money
b
: to avoid unnecessary waste or expense : economize
c
: to spend less money
3
: to make a save
savable adjective
or saveable
saver noun

save

2 of 4

noun

1
: a play that prevents an opponent from scoring or winning
2
: the action of a relief pitcher in baseball in successfully protecting a team's lead
also : official credit for a save

save

3 of 4

preposition

: other than : but, except
no hope save one

save

4 of 4

conjunction

1
: except for the fact that : only
used with that
of his earlier years little is known, save that he studied violinJ. N. Burk
2
: but, except
used before a word often taken to be the subject of a clause
no one knows about it save she
Choose the Right Synonym for save

rescue, deliver, redeem, ransom, reclaim, save mean to set free from confinement or danger.

rescue implies freeing from imminent danger by prompt or vigorous action.

rescued the crew of a sinking ship

deliver implies release usually of a person from confinement, temptation, slavery, or suffering.

delivered his people from bondage

redeem implies releasing from bondage or penalties by giving what is demanded or necessary.

job training designed to redeem school dropouts from chronic unemployment

ransom specifically applies to buying out of captivity.

tried to ransom the kidnap victim

reclaim suggests a bringing back to a former state or condition of someone or something abandoned or debased.

reclaimed long-abandoned farms

save may replace any of the foregoing terms; it may further imply a preserving or maintaining for usefulness or continued existence.

an operation that saved my life

Examples of save in a Sentence

Verb He is trying to save his marriage by going to counseling for his drug addiction. She saved a tense situation by staying calm. Thinner computer monitors save space. She would rather save than spend. Save a little money for later. She saves part of her pay every week. I saved $20,000 for a down payment on the house. She saved $15 at the grocery store by using coupons. Noun The goalie made a spectacular save. He leads the league in saves. Preposition We had no hope save one. everyone save me is going to the party Conjunction Little is known about his early years save that he left home when he was very young.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
With the restaurant industry buffeted by higher costs driven in part by rising minimum wages in California and other states, Miso is one of several tech startups betting more businesses will be searching for new ways to save money, reduce employee turnover and fill more orders. Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2024 As floodwaters roared through remote mountain communities of Western North Carolina, locals raced against time to save each other. Chris Kenning, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024
Noun
Pitching star: Larry Sherry went 2-0 with two saves to lead the Dodgers. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024 The 37-year-old drew numerous saves from Atlanta’s goalkeeper Brad Guzan, as well as striking the post midway through the first half. Ben Morse, CNN, 26 Oct. 2024
Preposition
Particularly this year, with COVID-19, there are no gatherings to attend save a bonfire or a socially distant hike now and then. Alli Harvey, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Oct. 2020 As of Sunday, all other airlines have already ended their flights to mainland China from SFO, which normally has more departures to China than any other U.S. airport save Los Angeles International. Mallory Moench, SFChronicle.com, 12 Feb. 2020 See all Example Sentences for save 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'save.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French salver, from Late Latin salvare, from Latin salvus safe — more at safe

Preposition

Middle English sauf, from Anglo-French sauve, from sauf, adjective, safe — more at safe

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1883, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Preposition

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Conjunction

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of save was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near save

Cite this Entry

“Save.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/save. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

save

1 of 3 verb
saved; saving
1
a
: to deliver from sin
b
: to rescue or deliver from danger or harm
saved his friend from drowning
c
: to keep from injury, destruction, waste, or loss
save the coat from damage by moths
d
: to store (data) in a computer or on a storage device (as a flash drive)
2
a
: to put aside for future use
save a little for later
b
: to put aside money
saved up for a new bike
3
a
: to make unnecessary : avoid
it will save your having to go back again
b
: to keep from being lost to an opponent
saved the game
4
a
: to avoid unnecessary waste or expense : economize
save on heat
b
: to spend less money
buy now and save
c
: to spend less by
save 25 percent
saver noun

save

2 of 3 noun
1
: a play that prevents an opponent from scoring or winning
2
: the action of a relief pitcher in baseball in successfully protecting a team's lead
also : official credit for a save

save

3 of 3 preposition
: except entry 1 sense 2
no hope save one
Etymology

Verb

Middle English saven "to deliver from sin," from early French salver (same meaning), from Latin salvare "to save," from earlier salvus "safe, healthy" — related to safe, sage entry 3

More from Merriam-Webster on save

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