save

1 of 4

verb

ˈsāv 

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

ˈsā-və-bəl 

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 violin

—J. 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

Synonyms

Verb

• deliver
• redeem

Preposition

• apart from
• aside from
• bar
• barring
• beside
• besides
• but
• except
• excepting
• except for
• excluding
• exclusive of
• other than
• outside
• outside of
• saving

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

Plus, hear hacks from professional organizers on maximizing counter space, Maintaining your home: Necessary home maintenance can save your thousands in the long run. —Karen Hugg, Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2024

The ship issued a mayday alert with just enough time for police to stop traffic, but not enough to save a roadwork crew filling potholes on the bridge. —Brian Witte, Quartz, 8 Apr. 2024

After months of hearings and negotiations, the Biden administration announced its latest plans Monday for student debt relief, proposing changes that would save about 30 million borrowers billions of dollars in total. —Jon Healey, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024

What impact did the need to save your younger brother have on your character? —Demetrius Patterson, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Apr. 2024

Book a room at the Rincon of the Seas Grand Caribbean Hotel, or save on food by reserving a villa with a kitchen — the largest villas can accommodate up to six people. —Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2024

Saturday, Cooley, who has been working a ton with goalie coach Thomas Speer, made one more save in the third period after Schenn’s goal, then three more in overtime as the Sharks killed a hooking penalty on Mikael Granlund. —Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2024

Sellers can even leave the unwanted contents, saving time and expense. —Archway Homes, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2024

And, since the nets work for just over two years, 1.3 lives are saved. —Virginia Heffernan, WIRED, 27 Mar. 2024

Noun

Alex Killorn had an assist for his 500th career point, and Lukas Dostal made 26 saves. —Austin Knoblauch, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024

James McArthur, the Royals’ fourth relief pitcher of the day, struck out Dominic Fletcher with two men on to end the game and earn the save. —Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2024

Bobrovsky made several strong saves midway through the second to keep the game tied, including a cross-crease pad stop on Morgan Geekie, who corralled a Brad Marchand pass in the right circle. —Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2024

The Sharks took a 2-0 lead into the third period as forward Eklund scored twice on the power play and Cooley made 22 saves in the first 40 minutes. —Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2024

The biggest save came on a shot from Bridgeport’s Jared Contreras who spun a launched a shot to the top shelf that Medina just tipped enough to hit the cross bar and bounce high off to the left. —Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2024

Blake Lizotte and Kevin Fiala also scored for the Kings, and Cam Talbot finished with 21 saves. —Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024

Meanwhile, with 22 saves and five postseason appearances in 2023, last season with the Rangers resonated in any number of ways for Smith — and perhaps the Royals. —Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2024

Unless there is a late change, Colorado’s bullpen will look like this to start the season: • Closer: Right-hander Justin Lawrence (3.72 ERA, 75 innings, 11 saves in 18 opportunities in 2023). —Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 25 Mar. 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

But all the candidates save Sanders were in Selma on Thursday to mark the 55th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. —Howard Koplowitz | [e-mail], al, 4 Mar. 2020

No part of the offense, save perhaps the running game in the second half, deserved praise following the Colts’ ugly 20-17 loss in Houston. —Jim Ayello, Indianapolis Star, 24 Nov. 2019

The interior was empty save a few fixtures and a bedraggled Christmas tree. —Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2020

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

Phrases Containing save

• save for
• save lives
• save someone's bacon/hide/neck/skin
• save a life
• save the life of (someone)
• save someone's life
• save someone's hide
• save-all
• save someone the trouble/bother
• to save someone's life
• save face
• save one's/someone's ass
• save the day

Kids Definition

save

1 of 3 verb

ˈsāv 

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