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

Example Sentences

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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
In addition to the versatility, adjustable dumbbells save a ton of space in your home. Andi Breitowich, womenshealthmag.com, 18 May 2023 Thousand also offers a free accident replacement policy, so save your receipt. goodhousekeeping.com, 18 May 2023 Jimenez saved her home, but the trauma from the experience continues, her daughter said. Propublica, Dallas News, 18 May 2023 ProPublica quoted an expert who developed PXDX as saying the system had saved that much money. Patrick Rucker, ProPublica, 16 May 2023 Forty-nine percent of consumers in 2023 are looking for snacks in multiple packs, up 8% a year ago, for various reasons like saving money and controlling intake portions, according to Circana. Prarthana Prakash, Fortune, 15 May 2023 Purchasing an artificial fiddle leaf fig saves you from the hassle while providing you with the beauty of a real one. Michelle Love, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 May 2023 His late-game shooting saved Boston in Game 6, and his dominant, MVP-like performance Sunday backed up his All-NBA selection and classification as one of the league’s best players. Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY, 14 May 2023 Some Democrats are fighting to save stations that often are the only live source of local information during extreme weather, as well as outlets that target immigrant audiences. Marc Fisher, Anchorage Daily News, 14 May 2023
Noun
Keira Bushey, Haverhill — With 12 saves, the junior goaltender was the game changer as the Hillies secured a 14-3 nonleague win over Triton. Olivia Nolan, BostonGlobe.com, 15 May 2023 Mimi Smith was credited with three saves through timed play, but gave up four goals during the shootout. Evan Dudley, al, 13 May 2023 Houston midfielder Joelle Anderson got on top of a loose ball and put it in the net with Bixby having just made a save on the other side of the frame. oregonlive, 13 May 2023 But Oettinger made some respectable saves along the way to giving himself a 23-2-3 record after losses, dating back to the start of the Calgary playoff last spring. Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas News, 10 May 2023 Sophomore goalie Alex Swartz was sensational with 13 saves, including eight in a first half that ended tied at 1. Glenn Graham, Baltimore Sun, 9 May 2023 Besides Meier, Nico Hischier and Damon Severson added their first goals of playoffs and Vitek Vanecek returned to the net and made 26 saves and even had an assist on Miles Wood's third-period breakaway. Tom Canavan, ajc, 8 May 2023 Fraley’s clutch double gave the Reds their first lead of the afternoon and closer Alexis Díaz earned his fourth save of the season by striking out the side to secure a 3-2 comeback win at the Oakland Coliseum. Bobby Nightengale, The Enquirer, 29 Apr. 2023 Barkov, Brandon Montour, Zac Dalpe and Sam Reinhart also scored for the Panthers, who got 30 saves from Sergei Bobrovsky. Tim Reynolds, Sun Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2023
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 | Hkoplowitz@al.com, al, 4 Mar. 2020 Rask’s career road save percentage of .936 in the postseason is the best since 1955-56, when shots on goal became an official NHL statistic. . Scott Thurston, BostonGlobe.com, 9 June 2019 In the hallway, shelves under the ceiling save space, and there are hooks on the wall for hanging skateboards. Ilya Khrennikov, Bloomberg.com, 24 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 Currently in his 11th NHL season with a career save percentage of .915 over 481 starts. Kyle Fredrickson, The Denver Post, 8 Dec. 2019 For 39 days, three players will have been locked into a game that has no pause button or reset button — no save points or checkpoints. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 20 Nov. 2019 See More

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 8 Jun. 2023.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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