First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
1save
verb \ˈsāv\
: 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
savedsav·ing
Full Definition of SAVE
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 (as a floppy disk or CD)
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
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
— sav·able or save·able \ˈsā-və-bəl\ adjective
— sav·er noun
See save defined for English-language learners
See save defined for kids
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Origin of SAVE
Middle English, from Anglo-French salver, from Late Latin salvare, from Latin salvus safe — more at safe
Related to SAVE
- Antonyms
- adventure, compromise, endanger, gamble (with), hazard, imperil, jeopardize, peril, risk, venture
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>.
2save
noun
: 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
Full 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
First Known Use of SAVE
1890
3save
preposition
: other than : but or except
Full Definition of SAVE
See save defined for English-language learners
Origin of SAVE
Middle English sauf, from Anglo-French sauve, from sauf, adjective, safe — more at safe
First Known Use: 14th century
Related to SAVE
- Synonyms
- apart from, aside from, bar, barring, beside, besides, but, except for, excluding, exclusive of, other than, outside, outside of, except, saving
4save
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
See save defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of SAVE
14th century
Save
geographical name
Definition of SAVE
— see sabi
SAVER Defined for Kids
1save
verb \ˈsāv\
savedsav·ing
Definition of SAVE for Kids
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.>
2save
preposition
Definition of SAVE for Kids
: 1except 2 <It rained every day save one.>
Learn More About SAVE
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