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

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
City officials, fans aim to save ride-share service. The Enquirer, 15 Mar. 2024 The option to save big Netflix, the largest and most profitable streaming service, uses yet another tactic to lessen its tax burden—offering stock options to executives. Byirina Ivanova, Fortune, 15 Mar. 2024 Learn how to save, spend mindfully and talk about money with your family and friends. Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024 Travelers love saving on free tourist-friendly attractions like Porto's museums, architecture, lush parks, and beaches. Nora Colomer, Fox News, 14 Mar. 2024 The commercial real estate market is reeling under the weight of office vacancies, which puts considerable stress on the small and regional banks that hold their mortgages, though companies with remote workers might save on office expenses, thus improving profitability. Tom Saler, Journal Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2024 The series follows a disgraced minister who must balance addressing the crisis and caring for his son, while an ambulance nurse goes to great lengths to save her lover. Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 14 Mar. 2024 His aunt, Misty Alvarez, said her nephew had used his savings to try to save his dog a few months ago after it was attacked, but the dog died. Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2024 As part of the strategy, Shell has started company-wide staff reductions, including in its low-carbon solutions division, in a drive to save up to $3 billion. Reuters, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024
Noun
Mexico also ran its shutout streak to 775 minutes before conceding, with Barreras making a sprawling save on Pirayú Martínez’s penalty kick early in the second half, then laying out to smother another try off the rebound. Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024 Callender, who had to make big saves to keep Miami alive against the L.A. Galaxy, had a relatively easy night against Orlando. Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2024 After 27 first-period saves by Linehan, the Ledgers finally broke through on a power-play goal by Fisher at 4:39 of the second period. Jim Hoehn, Twin Cities, 29 Feb. 2024 In his first season with the Blue Jays in 2023, Swanson finished with a 4-2 record, four saves and a 2.97 ERA. Wayne Sterling, CNN, 28 Feb. 2024 Georgiev made 24 saves, and Nathan MacKinnon assisted on an empty-net goal to extend his home point streak to 27 games, the second-longest to start a season in NHL history. Corey Masisak, The Denver Post, 20 Feb. 2024 After giving up five goals on 14 shots in relief of starter Lukas Dostal on Saturday, Gibson made several key third-period saves. Austin Knoblauch, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2024 Bobrovsky finished with 28 saves on 30 shots on goal. Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 18 Feb. 2024 Mackenzie Blackwood finished with 31 saves as the Sharks (15-33-5) split their two-game road trip. Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2024
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 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 The interior was empty save a few fixtures and a bedraggled Christmas tree. Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2020

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 19 Mar. 2024.

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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