save

verb \ ˈsāv \

|Updated on: 13 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: save in a Sentence

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 ,000 for a down payment on the house.
She saved at the grocery store by using coupons.

Recent Examples of save from the Web

Blockchain tech has the potential to prevent fraud, save time and money with efficiency, and improve tracking of everything from digital currency to insurance claims, patient records and product shipments.

— rebecca lurye, courant.com, "How Seven Stars Cloud Plans To Spend $283M In West Hartford," 14 July 2018
Bice said Alvogen does not take a position on the death penalty itself but opposes the use of the drug in a way that is fundamentally contrary to its purpose — saving and improving lives.

— author: ken ritter, michelle l. price, Anchorage Daily News, "Execution blocked after company objects to use of its drug," 12 July 2018
Days later, official television broadcast live the arrival of new 500-bolívar notes on emergency flights, along with commentary suggesting this would save the economy.

— The Economist, "Venezuelan cash is almost worthless, but also scarce," 12 July 2018
Harry Styles breaks hearts, saves lives and, last night, helped a girl come out.

— billboard staff, Billboard, "Harry Styles Helps Fan Come Out at San Jose Show," 12 July 2018
Almost by accident, bread saved the day for dessert at India Oven.

— mike sutter, San Antonio Express-News, "Review: India Oven brings the heat on West Avenue," 12 July 2018
The Patagonia also put in place a dyeing process that saves a half gallon of water per bag and produces 96 percent less carbon dioxide than conventional dyeing methods.

— tim newcomb, Popular Mechanics, "Patagonia's New Packs: Inspired by the Classics But Built for the Future," 10 July 2018
In many places, wind and solar are simply the low-cost option, which means that building more can save money and also reduce emissions.

— nathanael johnson, WIRED, "Where Can Climate Activists Find Common Ground?," 9 July 2018
High school students can help save a pet’s life and get credit from their school at the same time.

— susannah bryan, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Teens save lives, earn service hours by fostering shelter pets," 9 July 2018

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

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

save Synonyms

Phrases

pinch pennies;

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

Cali Murphy got the win in relief while Menges got the save.

— terry monahan, Pomerado News, "Poway softball team heads to Western Nationals," 12 July 2018
Cishek likely is unavailable to pitch in Wednesday’s series finale against the Giants after earning the save Tuesday night in his third consecutive game.

— mark gonzales, chicagotribune.com, "Cubs bullpen rotation: Steve Cishek won't pitch Wednesday, Brandon Morrow available again," 11 July 2018
Chase Calloway earned the save by recording the final four outs and allowing no hits with one strikeout.

— alex kushel, Sun-Sentinel.com, "West Boynton Little League Intermediate 50-70 All-Stars rule state play," 11 July 2018
In completing the save, Britton lowered his ERA to 4.63 with his fourth straight scoreless appearance and sixth in his past seven appearances.

— jon meoli, baltimoresun.com, "As Zach Britton's trade value for Orioles improves, Brad Brach's spirals further," 10 July 2018
Kitchen then got a strikeout and a ground-out to pick up the save.

— charles rich, latimes.com, "Burroughs baseball falls to No. 1 seed in VIBL quarterfinals," 10 July 2018
The save was the difference between going into halftime with a lead or with everything to do again.

— joshua robinson, WSJ, "France Puts It All Together to Advance to World Cup Semifinals," 6 July 2018
Real midfielder Albert Rusnak didn't do a great job of concealing his intentions and Sporting Kansas City's Tim Melia had the easiest save of his career.

— pete grathoff, kansascity, "Sporting's Tim Melia likely had easiest penalty-kick save of his career at Salt Lake," 5 July 2018
Tony Barnette, Jose Leclerc and Chris Martin each threw perfect innings before handing it off to Kela for the save.

— stefan stevenson, star-telegram, "Rangers Reaction: Bullpen keeps it up after offense wakes up against Padres," 26 June 2018

First Known Use of save

1883

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

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

Recent Examples of save from the Web

The 82-year-old has been helping to improve Belle Isle, save Eastern Market, ease racial tensions by giving young people something to do with Metro Detroit Youth Day.

— carol cain, Detroit Free Press, "This Detroiter's path leads directly to a Belle Isle honor," 6 July 2018
For years, the semiconductor world seemed to have settled into a quiet balance: Intel vanquished virtually all of the RISC processors in the server world, save IBM’s POWER line.

— andy patrizio, Ars Technica, "The AI revolution has spawned a new chips arms race," 9 July 2018
But Haniger picked up the ball and fired a perfect throw home to catcher Mike Zunino, beating Field by five steps to end the game and give Diaz his 23rd save of the season.

— ryan divish, The Seattle Times, "One-run wonders: Mariners eke out another as Haniger nails final out at the plate," 10 June 2018
Treinen, who turned 30 last week, converted his 19th consecutive save opportunity Wednesday and has yielded one run in his last 22 1/3 innings.

— john shea, SFChronicle.com, "A’s closer Blake Treinen sinks opposition while team soars," 5 July 2018
Kelvin Herrera threw a perfect ninth inning to secure his 13th save of the season and the Royals' seventh win in 11 games.

— maria torres, kansascity, "'I don't know how it happened': Soler's late homer lifts Royals to a win over the A's," 2 June 2018
On Monday night, Servais moved another increment closer to defeat when Edwin Diaz notched his league-leading 28th save of the season.

— ryan divish, The Seattle Times, "Even with a nine-day break between saves, Edwin Diaz is still on pace for more than 50 saves and new haircut for Mariners manager Scott Servais," 26 June 2018
That was easily Poland’s best opportunity of the game, and Ospina’s first save of the night.

— joel petterson, New York Times, "Colombia Keeps World Cup Hopes Alive While Dashing Poland’s," 25 June 2018
Brach, who had converted back-to-back save opportunities Tuesday night and Wednesday at Citi Field in New York, didn’t make it out of the ninth Thursday, blowing a save opportunity for the first time since Opening Day.

— eduardo a. encina, baltimoresun.com, "Orioles blow three-run lead in ninth inning, lose, 5-4, to Blue Jays in 10," 7 June 2018

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

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

save Synonyms

Synonyms

apart from, aside from, bar, barring, beside, besides, but, except (also excepting), except for, excluding, exclusive of, other than, outside, outside of, 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

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

SAVE Defined for English Language Learners

save

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

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.

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Definition of save

savable

saver

Examples of save in a Sentence

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save

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Other Baseball Terms

save

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save

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save

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save

Definition of save for English Language Learners

save

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