lifesaver

noun

life·sav·er | \ˈlīf-ˌsā-vər

Definition of lifesaver

1 : one trained to save lives of drowning persons

2 : one that is at once timely and effective in time of distress or need

Examples of lifesaver in a Sentence

a surgical procedure that has been a lifesaver for many people This multipurpose tool can be a real lifesaver when something needs fixing. Frozen dinners can be lifesavers for busy parents. Thanks so much for offering to help. You're a real lifesaver!

Recent Examples on the Web

WindAlert When wildfires erupt, knowing how fast the winds are blowing in specific areas can be a real lifesaver. — Cliff Kapono, sandiegouniontribune.com, "These smartphone apps will help you get through a natural disaster," 8 July 2018 Finally, when in doubt, a small denomination gift card to a big box store/supercenter in their area is always a lifesaver. — Southern Living, "The Etiquette of Giving: Your Gift Questions Answered," 12 July 2018 The railcar and boat -- one of which took Jewish people to their deaths at the hands of Nazis, the other a lifesaver that ferried 7,700 people to safety -- had been displayed outdoors for years, vulnerable to Houston's weather. — Molly Glentzer, Houston Chronicle, "Holocaust Museum's big artifacts take flight," 31 May 2018 A year ago, right-hander Taijuan Walker was a steady presence in the rotation and infielder Ketel Marte was a late-season lifesaver from Triple-A Reno. — Nick Piecoro, azcentral, "Arizona Diamondbacks’ Mitch Haniger-Jean Segura trade for Taijuan Walker and Ketel Marte leaning toward regrettable," 24 May 2018 For the people of Bikoro, in the DRC’s Equateur province, where there are already 55 suspected cases of Ebola and 28 deaths, this vaccine could be a lifesaver. — Seth Berkley, STAT, "Do we keep waiting for the next pandemic or try to prevent it?," 14 June 2018 Josh Barker, commander of the North District, said the program turned out to be a lifesaver recently for a teen and his mom, who had moved to Indianapolis from Evansville. — Maureen C. Gilmer, Indianapolis Star, "Mobile food pantry aims to feed up to 70,000 in Indianapolis," 5 June 2018 Lean on Your Squad Our network is not just our net worth, but often lifesavers. — Essence.com, "Yep, Meghan Markle Is A Black Woman," 15 May 2018 There's a lot to take in, but be sure to zoom in on the more literal details to catch things like lunchbox-style handbags and miniature lifesaver necklaces. — refinery29.com, "The Best Things About This Chanel Show Weren't Even The Clothes," 4 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lifesaver.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.