safer; safest
1
: free from harm or risk : unhurt
2
a
: secure from threat of danger, harm, or loss
b
: successful at getting to a base in baseball without being put out
3
: affording safety or security from danger, risk, or difficulty
5
a
: not threatening danger : harmless
b
: unlikely to produce controversy or contradiction
6
a
: not likely to take risks : cautious
b
safe
adverb
or safely
safeness
noun
1
: a place or receptacle to keep articles (such as valuables) safe
2
Synonyms
Examples of safe in a Sentence
Adjective
I don't feel safe in this neighborhood.
The kids were safe in the cabin.
We need to make sure that the children are safe and sound.
“Is the money safe?” “Yes, it's in the bank.”
a world made safe from war
Is it safe to walk here?
He wished us a safe trip.
I found a safe place to take shelter from the storm.
They live in a perfectly safe neighborhood.
We watched the fireworks from a safe distance.
Noun
the hotel recommended that we keep all our valuables in its safe during our stay
Recent Examples on the Web
Chloé Cooper Jones Emily Woo Zeller Krish Seenivasan Zachary Mouton, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2024
In what felt like real time, the shooting sent shock waves through the Colorado community and the nation, shattering the belief that children were safe at school.
—USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024
The officer informed the fiancee that the employee was safe, leading to the end of their phone call.
—Shawn Raymundo, The Arizona Republic, 19 Apr. 2024
Michigan has more than 2,500 native mushroom species, with the majority of them being toxic, while a select few are safe to eat.
—Detroit Free Press, 19 Apr. 2024
No corner of my life is safe from constant discussion about her: not the internet, not my group chats, not shopping at boutiques or going to coffee shops.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 19 Apr. 2024
Scoot Henderson was nationally considered the safer bet on the court, and off-the-court, Miller was still embroiled in a high-profile incident that resulted in tragedy when Miller was still a freshman at Alabama.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 18 Apr. 2024
But that doesn’t mean that the process is safe, or routine, or uncomplicated.
—Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024
Experience a new standard of support with a dedicated team, comprehensive technology and insight, and the most extensive coverage and search options to advance your business while keeping your brand and people safe.
—Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2024
Jeff Chu, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2024
Cinnamon, soup dumplings, eye ointments, gun safes, cars and more: See a list of the biggest recalls announced in the past six weeks.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 8 Mar. 2024
The reset codes are one reason the Department of Defense has banned the safes from being used inside the US government.
—Dell Cameron Andrew Couts, WIRED, 16 Mar. 2024
Consumer options: Machir is offering free replacement safes.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2024
The court documents detailed that the average crime tourist in the Valley operates most commonly between Friday and Sunday between 5-9 p.m. and ransacks a home for money, jewelry, designer purses and entire safes.
—The Arizona Republic, 22 Feb. 2024
The law requires gun owners to keep firearms locked away in safes or secured by a gun lock.
—Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 21 Feb. 2024
Otherwise, Phill could have just reached his hand in the safe, grabbed it, and sprinted away a multi-millionaire.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 8 Dec. 2023
More than 120,000 safes — including three gun safes designed for secure firearm storage — got recalled Thursday because their biometric locks might not limit access to the person with the right fingerprint.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2024
Adjective
There is no injury — everything Matty asks me to do is safe and does not hurt me — but my mind senses harm and locks my frame.
—Chloé Cooper Jones Emily Woo Zeller Krish Seenivasan Zachary Mouton, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2024
In what felt like real time, the shooting sent shock waves through the Colorado community and the nation, shattering the belief that children were safe at school.
—USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024
The officer informed the fiancee that the employee was safe, leading to the end of their phone call.
—Shawn Raymundo, The Arizona Republic, 19 Apr. 2024
Michigan has more than 2,500 native mushroom species, with the majority of them being toxic, while a select few are safe to eat.
—Detroit Free Press, 19 Apr. 2024
No corner of my life is safe from constant discussion about her: not the internet, not my group chats, not shopping at boutiques or going to coffee shops.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 19 Apr. 2024
Scoot Henderson was nationally considered the safer bet on the court, and off-the-court, Miller was still embroiled in a high-profile incident that resulted in tragedy when Miller was still a freshman at Alabama.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 18 Apr. 2024
But that doesn’t mean that the process is safe, or routine, or uncomplicated.
—Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024
Experience a new standard of support with a dedicated team, comprehensive technology and insight, and the most extensive coverage and search options to advance your business while keeping your brand and people safe.
—Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2024
Noun
Room 205, which used to be a bursar’s office, features Chip Gaines’s favorite detail in the hotel: a giant safe, which has been turned into a working closet.
—Jeff Chu, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2024
Cinnamon, soup dumplings, eye ointments, gun safes, cars and more: See a list of the biggest recalls announced in the past six weeks.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 8 Mar. 2024
The reset codes are one reason the Department of Defense has banned the safes from being used inside the US government.
—Dell Cameron Andrew Couts, WIRED, 16 Mar. 2024
Consumer options: Machir is offering free replacement safes.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2024
The court documents detailed that the average crime tourist in the Valley operates most commonly between Friday and Sunday between 5-9 p.m. and ransacks a home for money, jewelry, designer purses and entire safes.
—The Arizona Republic, 22 Feb. 2024
The law requires gun owners to keep firearms locked away in safes or secured by a gun lock.
—Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 21 Feb. 2024
Otherwise, Phill could have just reached his hand in the safe, grabbed it, and sprinted away a multi-millionaire.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 8 Dec. 2023
More than 120,000 safes — including three gun safes designed for secure firearm storage — got recalled Thursday because their biometric locks might not limit access to the person with the right fingerprint.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'safe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to safe
Dictionary Entries Near safe
Cite this Entry
“Safe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/safe. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
safe
1 of 2 adjective
safer; safest
1
: freed or secure from danger, harm, or loss
2
: successful at getting to a base in baseball without being put out
the runner was safe
3
: providing safety
4
: not threatening danger
safe medicine
5
a
: cautious
a safe driver
b
safely
adverb
safeness
noun
safe
2 of 2 noun
: a container to keep articles (as valuables) safe
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English sauf "safe, unhurt," from early French sauf (same meaning), from Latin salvus "safe, healthy" — related to sage entry 3, save
Medical Definition
safe
adjective
safer; safest
: not causing harm or injury
especially
: having a low incidence of adverse reactions and significant side effects when adequate instructions for use are given and having a low potential for harm under conditions of widespread availability
a list of drugs generally regarded as safe
safe use in pregnancy has not been established —Emergency Medicine
Emergency Medicine Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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