save

play

verb \ ˈsāv \

Definition of save

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

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

or saveable play \ˈsā-və-bəl\ adjective

—

saver

noun

See save defined for English-language learners

See save defined for kids

Examples of save in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of save from the Web

Tennessee Titans (9-7): A huge rise from 3-13 the year before saved Mike Mularkey’s job.

— greg cote, miamiherald, "See who’s No. 1 and where Dolphins land in our annual NFL Team Rankings," 30 Aug. 2017
But since many people can’t save enough in 401(k)s or IRAs to adequately cover their retirement, an HSA can be an extra help.

— gail marksjarvis, charlotteobserver, "As open enrollment approaches, here’s how to pick the right health-savings account," 30 Aug. 2017
Burroughs was missing its starting goalkeeper and pressed junior varsity keeper David Karagezyan (six saves) into duty.

— jeff tully, Burbank Leader, "Arakelyan leads Burroughs to comeback victory," 29 Aug. 2017
Studies of the levee failures concluded that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which designed and built the levees, was responsible for their failures, mainly because short steel pilings were used to save money.

— contributing writer, NOLA.com, "Heartbreaker, life taker, game changer: Hurricane Katrina," 29 Aug. 2017
The contractors quite literally raced from San Diego to Escondido, saving millions and years in the process.

— dan mcswain, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Scandal fells a true hero to commuters," 28 Aug. 2017
And some Treasure Valley residents may have recognized Brandi Smith, the KHOU reporter who helped save the truck’s driver.

— nicole blanchard john sowell, idahostatesman, "Former Idaho reporter goes viral after helping rescue man stranded by hurricane," 27 Aug. 2017
There are really only two things to do with those solar-filter glasses now: Save them for the next eclipse, or donate them to a good cause.

— jay bennett, Popular Mechanics, "Done With Your Eclipse Glasses? Donate Them to Kids In Another Part of the World," 22 Aug. 2017
Slightly Stoopid Everyone’s favorite Ocean Beach stoner collective always saves the best stash (of songs and special guests) for hometown shows and still boasts local legend Karl Denson on sax.

— scott mcdonald, Pacific San Diego Magazine, "Top concerts in San Diego (Aug. 21-27)," 21 Aug. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of save

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

save Synonyms

Synonyms

deliver, redeem

Antonyms

adventure, compromise, endanger, gamble (with), hazard, imperil, jeopardize, peril, risk, venture

Related Words

reclaim, reform; forgive, pardon, remit, shrive; bless, hallow; consecrate, purify, sanctify

Near Antonyms

blow, dissipate, fritter (away), lavish, misspend, run through, spend, squander, throw away; splurge

Synonym Discussion of 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

save

noun

Definition of save

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

See save defined for English-language learners

Examples of save in a Sentence

The goalie made a spectacular save.
He leads the league in saves.

Recent Examples of save from the Web

Alexander recorded his first save in the win over the Rockies on Tuesday at Kauffman Stadium.

— rustin dodd, kansascity, "Royals reliever Kelvin Herrera exits with ‘forearm tightness’ in 3-2 victory over the Rockies," 23 Aug. 2017
But Matthys struggled as a sophomore, going 2-5 with an 8.07 ERA and three saves.

— michael osipoff, Post-Tribune, "Undrafted Jake Matthys a diamond in the rough as pitcher for RailCats," 17 Aug. 2017
There are no gauges or dials anywhere on the minimalist dash save for one 15-inch monitor.

— tom randall, Bloomberg.com, "Here Come the Tesla Model 3s ... and a Few Surprises," 27 July 2017
Baldwin, who will be a senior next season at Samford, is averaging a strikeout per inning and has also tallied a save.

— samford athletics, AL.com, "Baseball Bulldogs continue to shine in summer league play," 17 July 2017
After the extraterrestrial meanderings of the Guardians of the Galaxy and the save-the-world mandates of the Avengers—to say nothing of the grim offerings served up by DC Comics pre-Wonder Woman—

— christopher orr, The Atlantic, "Spider-Man: Homecoming Is One of the Best Superhero Movies in Years," 6 July 2017
In the hopes of enticing potential buyers to purchase and restore these properties, the conservation charity Save will publish a catalog of 100 at-risk buildings on June 28, Maev Kennedy reports for the Guardian.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "UK Charity Calls On Developers to Save At-Risk Buildings," 21 June 2017
Lorenzen blew a save on Monday, just the team’s sixth of the season, tied for the fewest in the National League.

— c. trent rosecrans, Cincinnati.com, "Cincinnati Reds' bullpen unravels in loss to Tampa Bay Rays," 21 June 2017
BRIEFLY Reliever Ryan Pressly was recalled from Triple-A Rochester after two saves and seven strikeouts across three scoreless outings (four innings).

— mike berardino, Twin Cities, "Twins pitcher Phil Hughes resumes throwing program," 20 June 2017

First Known Use of save

1883

Other Baseball Terms

alley, cleanup, nightcap, safety, shag

save

preposition

Definition of save

:other than :but, except

no hope save one

See save defined for English-language learners

Examples of save in a Sentence

We had no hope save one.
everyone save me is going to the party

Origin and Etymology of save

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

save Synonyms

Synonyms

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

save

conjunction

Definition of save

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

See save defined for English-language learners

Examples of save in a Sentence

Little is known about his early years save that he left home when he was very young.

First Known Use of save

14th century

SAVE Defined for English Language Learners

save

play

verb

Definition of save for English Language Learners

: to keep (someone or something) safe : to stop (someone or something) from dying or being hurt, damaged, or lost
: to stop (something) from ending or failing : to make (something that is in danger of failing) successful
: to keep (something) from being lost or wasted

save

noun

Definition of save for English Language Learners

: a play that stops an opponent from scoring a goal
baseball of a relief pitcher : the act of keeping a team's lead when replacing another pitcher at the end of a game

save

preposition

Definition of save for English Language Learners

: other than : but or except

SAVE Defined for Kids

save

play

verb \ ˈsāv \

Definition of save for Students

saved; saving

1 :to free or keep from danger or harm

He saved a child from drowning.

2 :to keep from being ruined :preserve

The group works to save the rain forests.

3 :to put aside for later use

Save some milk for me.

4 :to keep money instead of spending it

5 :to keep from being spent, wasted, or lost

I'm saving my energy.

6 :to make unnecessary

Shortcuts save an hour's driving.

save

preposition

Definition of save for Students

:¹except 2

It rained every day save one.

Learn More about save

See words that rhyme with save Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for save Spanish Central: Translation of save Nglish: Translation of save for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of save for Arabic speakers

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save

Definition of save

savable

saver

From the M-W Editors

Examples of save in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of save

save Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Synonym Discussion of save

save

Definition of save

Examples of save in a Sentence

Recent Examples of save from the Web

First Known Use of save

Other Baseball Terms

save

Definition of save

Examples of save in a Sentence

Origin and Etymology of save

save Synonyms

Synonyms

save

Definition of save

Examples of save in a Sentence

First Known Use of save

SAVE Defined for English Language Learners

save

Definition of save for English Language Learners

save

Definition of save for English Language Learners

save

Definition of save for English Language Learners

SAVE Defined for Kids

save

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save

Definition of save for Students

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