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

• redeem
• forgive

Preposition

• except
• excepting
• beside
• besides
• but
• 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

Sabalenka, one of the favorites to lift the Wimbledon title this year, had saved four match points in a tiebreak to escape 2022 champion Elena Rybakina the previous day, one of them coming via a fortunate net cord. —James Hansen, New York Times, 21 June 2025

But, as President Zelensky noted at the G7 summit, additional funding from allies to speed the development and production process could save a lot of lives. —David Hambling, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025

Noun

Abrams homered in the ninth, but Dodgers closer Tanner Scott buckled down to secure his 15th save. —Benjamin Royer, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2025

The 6-foot-2 southpaw went 6-2 with a save while posting a 1.69 ERA. —Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 20 June 2025

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

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

Rhymes for save

• brave
• cave
• clave
• crave
• fave
• gave
• grave
• knave
• lave
• nave
• pave
• rave

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