save
to keep something, especially money, for use in the future
Tom's been saving his pocket money every week.
Oxford Essential Dictionary
save
verb (saves, saving, saved )
1 to take somebody or something away from danger:
He saved me from the fire.
The doctor saved her life.
2 (also save up) to keep or not spend money so that you can buy something later:
I've saved enough money to buy a car.
I'm saving up for a new bike.
3 to keep something to use in the future:
Save some of the meat for tomorrow.
4 to use less of something:
She saves money by making her own clothes.
5 to stop somebody from scoring a goal, for example in football
6 (computing) to store information in a computer by giving it a special instruction:
Don't forget to save the file before you close it.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
save
I. save1 S1 W1 /seɪv/ BrE AmE verb
[Word Family: noun: ↑save, ↑saver, ↑saving, savings, SAVIOUR/SAVIOR; verb: ↑save]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: salver, from Late Latin salvare, from Latin salvus; ⇨ ↑safe1]
1. FROM HARM/DANGER [transitive] to make someone or something safe from danger, harm, or destruction ⇨ rescue:
Emergency aid could save millions threatened with starvation.
a new treatment that could save his life
She was determined to save her marriage.
the campaign to save the rain forests
save somebody/something from something
He saved the child from drowning.
2. MONEY [intransitive and transitive] (also save up) to keep money in a bank so that you can use it later, especially when you gradually add more money over a period of time:
He managed to save enough to buy a small house.
So far, I’ve saved about £500.
save for
I’m saving up for a new car. ⇨ ↑saver
3. NOT WASTE [transitive] (also save on something) to use less money, time, energy etc so that you do not waste any OPP waste:
We’ll save a lot of time if we go by car.
Everyone is being encouraged to save energy.
ways to save money on heating bills
energy-saving/time-saving etc
money-saving ideas
4. TO USE LATER [transitive] to keep something so that you can use or enjoy it in the future:
We’ll save the rest of the food and have it later.
save something for something
I had a bottle of champagne which I’d been saving for a special occasion.
5. COLLECT [transitive] (also save something ↔ up) to keep all the objects of a particular kind that you can find, so that you can use them:
I’m saving up vouchers to get a cheap air ticket to the States.
6. HELP TO AVOID [transitive] to help someone by making it unnecessary for them to do something that they do not want to do:
If you lent me £5, it would save me a trip to the bank.
save somebody doing something
I’ll take the shopping home in the car to save you carrying it.
save somebody the trouble/bother (of doing something)
I’ll get a taxi from the station to save you the trouble of coming to collect me.
7. KEEP FOR SOMEBODY [transitive] to stop people from using something so that it is available for someone else:
Will you save me a seat?
save something for somebody
We’ll save some dinner for you if you’re late.
8. COMPUTER [intransitive and transitive] to make a computer keep the work that you have done on it:
Don’t forget to save before you close the file.
Did you save the changes that you made?
9. SPORT [intransitive and transitive] to stop the other team from scoring in a game such as football:
The goalkeeper just managed to save the shot.
10. you saved my life spoken used to thank someone who has helped you out of a difficult situation or solved a problem for you:
Thanks again for the loan – you really saved my life.
11. save sb’s skin/neck/bacon informal to help someone to escape from an extremely difficult or dangerous situation:
He lied in court to save his own skin.
12. save the day to stop things from going badly and make a situation end successfully:
A local businessman saved the day by donating £30,000 to the school.
13. save face to do something that will stop you from looking stupid or feeling embarrassed:
A compromise must be found which will allow both sides in the dispute to save face. ⇨ ↑face-saving
14. saving grace the one good thing that makes someone or something acceptable:
His sense of humour was his only saving grace.
15. somebody can’t do something to save his/her life informal to be completely unable to do something:
He couldn’t draw to save his life!
16. save your breath spoken used to tell someone that it is not worth saying anything, because nothing they say will make any difference to the situation:
I tried to explain, but she told me to save my breath.
17. save somebody from themselves to prevent someone from doing something that they want to do but that you think is harmful
18. RELIGION [intransitive and transitive] in the Christian church, to free someone from the power of evil and bring them into the Christian religion:
Jesus came to save sinners.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ save to gradually collect money by not spending all the money you have, especially when you regularly put some of it in a bank: She doesn’t earn much, but she still manages to save a few dollars each week. | We’re saving for a deposit to buy a house.
▪ set/put aside to regularly save part of the money you earn, especially over a long period of time: You should start setting aside part of your earnings as retirement savings.
▪ scrimp and save to try to save money by spending less on the things you need and by saving what you can, especially when you do not earn very much: My parents scrimped and saved for years to send me to college.
▪ squirrel something away informal to keep something, especially money, in a safe place to be used later: I wanted to surprise her, so I squirreled away a couple of dollars a week to spend on a present.
▪ economize to spend less money by buying only the things that you really need, or by buying cheaper things: Weddings can be expensive, but you can economize by doing some things yourself.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
save
save [save saves saved saving] verb, noun, preposition, conjunction [seɪv] [seɪv]
verb
KEEP SAFE
1. transitive to keep sb/sth safe from death, harm, loss, etc
• ~ sb/sth to save sb's life
• Doctors were unable to save her.
• He's trying to save their marriage.
• She needs to win the next two games to save the match.
• (figurative) Thanks for doing that. You saved my life (= helped me a lot).
• ~ sb/sth (from sth) to save a rare species (from extinction)
• Money from local businesses helped save the school from closure.
• ~ sb/sth from doing sth She saved a little girl from falling into the water.
MONEY
2. intransitive, transitive to keep money instead of spending it, especially in order to buy a particular thing
• I'm not very good at saving.
• ~ (up) (for sth) I'm saving for a new bike.
• We've been saving up to go to Australia.
• ~ sth (up) (for sth) You should save a little each week.
• I've saved almost £100 so far.
COLLECT STH
3. transitive ~ sth to collect sth because you like it or for a special purpose
• I've been saving theatre programmes for years.
• If you save ten tokens you can get a T-shirt.
KEEP FOR FUTURE
4. transitive to keep sth to use or enjoy in the future
• ~ sth (for sth/sb) He's saving his strength for the last part of the race.
• We'll eat some now and save some for tomorrow.
• Save some food for me.
• ~ sb sth Save me some food.
NOT WASTE
5. transitive, intransitive to avoid wasting sth or using more than necessary
• ~ sth We'll take a cab to save time.
• Book early and save £50!
• We should try to save water.
• ~ sth on sth The government is trying to save £1 million on defence.
• ~ sb sth (on sth) If we go this way it will save us two hours on the trip.
• ~ on sth I save on fares by walking to work.
AVOID STH BAD
6. transitive to avoid doing sth difficult or unpleasant; to make sb able to avoid doing sth difficult or unpleasant
• ~ sb from doing sth The prize money saved her from having to find a job.
• ~ sth She did it herself to save argument.
• ~ sb sth Thanks for sending that letter for me— it saved me a trip.
• ~ doing sth He's grown a beard to save shaving.
• ~ sb doing sth If you phone for an appointment, it'll save you waiting.
IN SPORT
7. transitive, intransitive ~ (sth) (in football ( soccer ), etc.) to prevent an opponent's shot from going in the goal
• to save a penalty
• The goalie saved Johnson's long-range shot.
• (BrE) The goalie saved brilliantly from Johnson's long-range shot.
COMPUTING
8. transitive, intransitive ~ (sth) to make a computer keep work, for example by putting it on a disk
• Save data frequently.
Word Origin:
v. and n. Middle English Old French sauver late Latin salvare Latin salvus ‘safe’
conj. and prep. Middle English Old French sauf sauve Latin salvo salva salvus ‘safe’ salvo jure, salva innocentia ‘with no violation of right or innocence’
Thesaurus:
save verb
1. T
• They launched a campaign to save the school from closure.
rescue • • preserve • • protect • • defend • • safeguard • • bail sb out • |formal, religion redeem •
Opp: endanger
save/rescue/preserve/protect/defend/redeem sb/sth from sth
save/redeem sinners/mankind
save/preserve/protect/safeguard jobs
save/preserve/protect a species
2. I
• I'm saving up for a new car.
budget • • economize • • skimp • |informal tighten your belt •
Opp: spend
save up/budget for sth
economize/skimp on sth
3. T
• I've saved almost £100 so far.
put/set sth aside • • deposit • • bank •
Opp: waste
save/put aside/deposit/bank money, £100, etc.
save/deposit cash
4. T
• I'll save you a seat.
reserve • • hold • |especially BrE keep •
save/reserve/hold/keep sth for sb/sth
save/reserve/hold/keep a seat/place for sb/sth
save/keep some food for sb
Save, reserve or keep? Reserve is used especially when sth is officially saved for sb/sth. Keep and save are more often used if sth is saved for you unofficially, for example by a friend.
5. T, I
• We'll take a cab to save time.
formal conserve •
Opp: waste
save/conserve energy/water/fuel
Synonyms:
save
budget • economize • tighten your belt
These words all mean to spend less money.
save • to keep money instead of spending it, often in order to buy a particular thing: ▪ I'm saving for a new car.
budget • to be careful about the amount of money you spend; to plan to spend an amount of money for a particular purpose: ▪ If we budget carefully we'll be able to afford the trip.
economize • to use less money, time, etc. than you normally use
tighten your belt • (rather informal) to spend less money because there is less available: ▪ With the price increases, we are all having to tighten our belts.
to save up/budget for sth
to have to save/budget/economize/tighten our belts
to try to/manage to save/budget/economize
Synonyms:
save
rescue • bail out • redeem
These words all mean to prevent sb/sth from dying, losing sth, being harmed or embarrassed.
save • to prevent sb/sth from dying, being harmed or destroyed or losing sth: ▪ Doctors were unable to save him. ◊ ▪ a campaign to save the panda from extinction
rescue • to save sb/sth from a dangerous or harmful situation: ▪ They were rescued by a passing cruise ship.
bail sb out • to rescue sb/sth from a difficult situation, especially by providing money: ▪ Don't expect me to bail you out if it all goes wrong.
redeem • (formal, religion) to save sb from the power of evil: ▪ He was a sinner, redeemed by the grace of God.
Redeem is also used in non-religious language in the phrase redeem a situation, which means to prevent a situation from being as bad as it might be.
to save/rescue/redeem sb/sth from sth
to save/rescue/redeem a situation
to save/redeem sinners/mankind
to rescue sb/bail sb out financially
Example Bank:
• Doctors battled to save the little boy's life.
• He is responsible for saving the lives of the aircrew.
• I'm saving up to buy a new car.
• I'm trying to save up for my holiday.
• It's a trick that might just save us from total disaster.
• Nothing could save us from disaster.
• She helped save my career.
• The furniture was beyond saving.
• They saved the paintings from destruction.
• They're hoping to save on printing costs.
• We managed to save the animals from being put down.
• We scrimp and save to send our children to a private school.
• We use video conferencing for our meetings, thereby saving thousands in travel expenses.
• We're trying to save up for our honeymoon.
• a last desperate attempt to save his marriage
• He's saving his strength for the last part of the race.
• I won't save you a seat if you're late.
• I've saved some food for you.
• We'll eat some now and save some for tomorrow.
• Doctors were unable to save him.
• Factory and farm managers were told to save electricity during peak hours.
• Gerrard's late goal saved the day for Liverpool.
• I'm not very good at saving.
• I'm saving for a new bike.
• I've saved almost £100 so far.
• She tried to get the boy to run away and save himself, not try to help her.
• She was fired, but she saved face by telling everyone she'd resigned.
• Thanks for doing that— you saved my life!.
• There's no doubt that the firefighters saved my daughter's life.
• They're launching a campaign to save the eagle from extinction.
• This new system could save us a lot of money.
• We made one last attempt to save our marriage.
• We'll take a cab to save time.
• We've been saving up to go to Australia.
Idioms: not be able to do something to save your life ▪ save face ▪ save somebody's neck ▪ save the day ▪ save your breath ▪ save your skin
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
save / seɪv / verb (KEEP)
A2 [ I or T ] to keep something, especially money, for use in the future:
Tom's been saving his pocket money every week.
We're saving (up) for a new car.
I save all my old letters in case I want to read them again.
Save me a place at your table, will you?
A2 [ T ] to put information on a computer onto a computer disk
save / seɪv / verb (MAKE SAFE)
B1 [ T ] to stop someone or something from being killed, injured, or destroyed:
Wearing seat belts has saved many lives.
He fell in the river but his friend saved him from drown ing .
He had to borrow money to save his business.
He was desperately trying to save their failing marriage.
We all need to do our bit to save the planet .
The former tennis champion was now serving to save the match (= to win the next point so that the other player did not win this part of the competition) .
save sb's life B1 to stop someone from being killed informal to help someone escape from a difficult or unpleasant situation:
Thanks for helping me with that report - you saved my life!
save / seɪv / verb [ I or T ] (NOT WASTE)
B1 to prevent time, money, or effort being wasted or spent:
You'll save time if you take the car.
[ + two objects ] Thanks for your help - it saved me a lot of work.
[ + -ing verb ] I'll lend you a bag for your trip - it'll save you buy ing one specially.
informal Can you save it for later (= tell me your news later when I am less busy) ?
save / seɪv / verb [ T ] (SPORT)
B2 in football and similar games, to stop the ball from going into the goal when a player on the other team has kicked or hit it
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
save
/seɪv/
(saves, saving, saved)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
If you save someone or something, you help them to avoid harm or to escape from a dangerous or unpleasant situation.
...a final attempt to save 40,000 jobs in Britain’s troubled aero industry...
A new machine no bigger than a 10p piece could help save babies from cot death...
The national health system saved him from becoming a cripple.
VERB: V n, V n from n/-ing, V n from n/-ing
• -saving
His boxing career was ended after two sight-saving operations.
COMB in ADJ
2.
If you save, you gradually collect money by spending less than you get, usually in order to buy something that you want.
The majority of people intend to save, but find that by the end of the month there is nothing left...
Tim and Barbara are now saving for a house in the suburbs...
They could not find any way to save money.
VERB: V, V for n, V n
•
Save up means the same as save.
Julie wanted to put some of her money aside for holidays or save up for something special...
People often put money aside in order to save up enough to make one major expenditure.
PHRASAL VERB: V P for n, V P n (not pron)
3.
If you save something such as time or money, you prevent the loss or waste of it.
It saves time in the kitchen to have things you use a lot within reach...
I’ll try to save him the expense of a flight from Perth...
I got the fishmonger to skin the fish which helped save on the preparation time.
≠ waste
VERB: V n, V n n, V on n
• -saving
...labor-saving devices.
COMB in ADJ
4.
If you save something, you keep it because it will be needed later.
Drain the beans thoroughly and save the stock for soup...
VERB: V n
5.
If someone or something saves you from an unpleasant action or experience, they change the situation so that you do not have to do it or experience it.
The scanner will save risk and pain for patients...
She was hoping that something might save her from having to make a decision...
He arranges to collect the payment from the customer, thus saving the client the paperwork.
VERB: V n, V n from n/-ing, V n n
6.
If you save data in a computer, you give the computer an instruction to store the data on a tape or disk. (COMPUTING)
Try to get into the habit of saving your work regularly...
Import your scanned images from the scanner and save as a JPG file.
VERB: V n, V as n
7.
If a goalkeeper saves, or saves a shot, they succeed in preventing the ball from going into the goal.
He saved one shot when the ball hit him on the head.
VERB: V n
•
Save is also a noun.
Spurs could have had several goals but for some brilliant saves from John Hallworth.
N-COUNT
8.
You can use save to introduce the only things, people, or ideas that your main statement does not apply to. (FORMAL)
There is almost no water at all in Mochudi save that brought up from bore holes.
= apart from
PREP
•
Save for means the same as save.
The parking lot was virtually empty save for a few cars clustered to one side.
= apart from
PREP-PHRASE
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
1save /ˈseɪv/ verb saves; saved; sav·ing
1 [+ obj]
a : to keep (someone or something) safe : to stop (someone or something) from dying or being hurt, damaged, or lost
• He risked his life to save his friend (from drowning).
• The organization is dedicated to saving [=protecting] endangered animals.
• We need to save the rain forests (from destruction).
• He grabbed her arm to save her from falling. [=to stop/prevent her from falling so that she would not be hurt]
• The doctors managed to save the soldier's wounded leg. [=to keep the leg from having to be cut off]
b : to stop (something) from ending or failing : to make (something that is in danger of failing) successful
• He is trying to save his marriage by going to counseling for his drug addiction.
• The new CEO saved the company (from bankruptcy).
• She saved a tense situation by staying calm.
2 : to keep (something) from being lost or wasted
[+ obj]
• This new plan will help us save time. = The new plan will save us some time.
• Thinner computer monitors save space.
[no obj]
- + on
• A more efficient furnace will save on energy.
3 a : to keep money instead of spending it : to put money away especially in a bank so that you will have it in the future
[no obj]
• She would rather save than spend.
• He has been saving (up) for a new car.
[+ obj]
• 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.
b : to spend less money
[no obj]
• Buy now and save!
- often + on
• Save on everything in the store!
• He saved on [=spent less money for] his car insurance by switching to a different insurance company.
[+ obj]
• She saved $15 at the grocery store by using coupons.
- often + on
• We're trying to save money on our electric bill.
4 [+ obj]
a : to keep (something) available for use in the future
• Be sure to save some cookies for your sister.
• You need to save (up) your energy for tomorrow.
• He saves his best jacket for special occasions. [=he only wears his best jacket on special occasions]
• The runners saved their energy for the last lap. = The runners saved themselves for the last lap.
b : to keep (something) for someone to use or have
• She saved a seat for her friend.
• Please save the next dance for me. = Please save me the next dance. [=please don't plan to dance the next dance with anyone but me]
5 [+ obj] : to make (something) unnecessary
• Check that you have everything before you leave. It will save your having to go back again.
• The shortcut saves an hour's driving.
6 [+ obj] : to keep (someone) from doing something
• Thanks for sending out that package. It saved me a trip to the post office.
• I'll make the appointment for you to save you the trouble/bother. [=so that you don't have to do it yourself]
- often + from
• You should cut up the vegetables to save you from doing it later when the guests are here.
7 [+ obj] : to collect or keep (something)
• She saved all his letters.
8 : to store (data) in a computer or on a storage device (such as a CD) so that it can be used later
[+ obj]
• You should save your work on/to a disk.
• save a file
[no obj]
• Don't forget to save before you close the file.
9 [+ obj] sports
a : to stop (an opponent's shot) from scoring a goal
• He saved the penalty kick/shot.
b : to keep (a game) from being lost to an opponent
• The relief pitcher saved the game.
10 in Christianity : to protect or free (someone) from sin or evil
[+ obj]
• He believes that Jesus Christ will save him.
[no obj]
• Jesus saves.
a penny saved (is a penny earned)
- see penny
save face
- see 1face
save someone's bacon/hide/neck/skin informal : to save someone : to help someone get out of a dangerous or difficult situation
• You really saved my bacon by helping out yesterday.
• He doesn't care what happens to us. All he's worried about is saving his own skin/neck. [=saving himself]
save someone's life
1 or save a life : to stop (someone) from dying or being killed : to rescue (someone) who is in terrible danger
• She thanked the firefighters who saved her life. [=rescued her]
• a surgical procedure that has saved the lives of thousands of people
• The use of seat belts can save lives.
• If you donate blood, you might save a life.
2 informal : to help (someone) in an important way - often used to thank someone who helped you
• Thanks for covering for me. You really saved my life.
save the day : to make a bad situation end successfully
• Just when things looked hopeless, my brother came along and saved the day.
save your breath
- see breath
to save your life informal
✦If you cannot do something to save your life, you are completely unable to do it.
• She can't sing to save her life. [=she is a very bad singer]
