save
save
Pronunciation
IPA phonetic spelling: /seɪv/
syllable 1: /seɪv/
/s/ - unvoiced alveolar fricative
/eɪ/ - diphthong (as in "day")
/v/ - voiced labiodental fricative
Word Form Variations
Verb:
save (base form, present tense - I/you/we/they save)
saves (present tense - he/she/it saves)
saving (present participle, gerund)
saved (past tense, past participle)
Noun:
save (singular)
saves (plural)
Adjective:
saved (can function as an adjective, e.g., "the saved data")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
To rescue or protect from harm, danger, or loss.
Synonyms: preserve, protect, rescue, deliver, keep, secure
Antonyms: endanger, risk, jeopardize, abandon, lose
To retain or store something for future use.
Synonyms: keep, store, retain, hoard, accumulate, reserve
Antonyms: spend, waste, squander, deplete, use up
To prevent the expenditure or waste of money, time, or effort.
Synonyms: conserve, economize, cut back, reduce, prevent
Antonyms: waste, spend, squander, fritter away, exhaust
In sports, to prevent an opponent from scoring a point, goal, or run.
Synonyms: block, stop, deflect, parry, intercept
Antonyms: concede, allow, yield
Noun
An act of rescuing or protecting someone or something from danger or loss.
Synonyms: rescue, deliverance, protection, preservation, recovery
Antonyms: loss, endangerment, destruction, failure
In sports, an instance of preventing an opponent from scoring.
Synonyms: block, stop, parry, deflection
Antonyms: goal, score, point
Examples of Use
Books:
"It's a wonder how many lives a single act of kindness can save." (from "The Midnight Library" by Matt Haig)
"The protagonist's mission was to save the ancient texts from destruction." (from "The Name of the Rose" by Umberto Eco)
Newspapers:
"Local residents rallied to save the historic theater from demolition." (The Daily Nation)
"Economists debate the best strategies to save the struggling global economy." (The Wall Street Journal)
Online Publications:
"Tips to save money on your grocery bill this month." (Investopedia)
"Environmental groups push for policies to save endangered species from extinction." (National Geographic online)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Video Games: "Do you want to save your progress before exiting?" (common prompt in many video games, e.g., The Legend of Zelda series)
Movies: "I've come to save you!" (line spoken by characters in countless action and adventure films, e.g., "Avengers: Endgame," April 2019)
Music: "And I will always love you, I will always save you." (lyrics from "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston, 1992)
Television Shows: "On tonight's episode, the doctors race against time to save a critical patient." (typical voiceover from medical dramas like "Grey's Anatomy," ongoing)
General Public Discourse:
"Can you help me save this document to the cloud?" (common office conversation)
"We need to save water during the dry season." (public awareness campaigns)
"He made an amazing save in the last minute of the game!" (sports commentary)
"Please save me a seat at the table." (social interaction)
10 Quotes Using Save
"Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." (Often attributed to Benjamin Franklin, though present in earlier proverbs, 1735)
"The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle." (Steve Jobs, Stanford University Commencement Address, June 2005)
"He who would save liberty must bring it, not from above, but from below." (Louis Brandeis)
"I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right temporarily defeated is stronger than evil triumphant." (Martin Luther King Jr., Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech, December 1964)
"Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile." (Albert Einstein)
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." (Mahatma Gandhi)
"Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country." (John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, January 1961)
"To save the world, we must first save nature." (Paul Watson)
"No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another." (Charles Dickens)
"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." (Nelson Mandela)
Etymology
The word "save" has a really interesting journey through languages!
It ultimately comes from the Latin word "salvus," which meant "safe" or "healthy." Think of words like "salvation" or "safe" itself – they share this ancient root.
From "salvus," it evolved into Late Latin "salvare," meaning "to make safe" or "to secure."
This then made its way into Old French as "sauver" (or "salver"), still carrying the meaning of "to keep safe, protect, or redeem."
English borrowed it from Old French. The first known uses of "save" in English appeared around 1200 (or even earlier, around 1175-1225, depending on the source).
Its initial meanings in English were very much focused on:
Delivering from danger: "To rescue from peril, bring to safety."
Preventing death: "To prevent the death of."
Spiritual salvation: "To deliver from sin or its consequences; admit to eternal life; gain salvation."
So, at its core, "save" has always been about bringing someone or something to a state of safety, well-being, or preservation, whether from physical harm or spiritual danger. Over time, its meaning expanded to include other forms of keeping and protection, like saving money or saving data on a computer.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Save
Save the day: To provide a solution or rescue a situation at the last moment.
Save face: To avoid humiliation or preserve one's reputation.
Save for a rainy day: To put money aside for future needs or emergencies.
Save your breath: To advise someone that it's useless to talk or argue, as their words will have no effect.
Save your skin: To escape harm or danger, often narrowly.
Save as (in computing): To store a file under a particular name or in a particular format.
Save up: To accumulate money over time.
Save yourself the trouble: To avoid unnecessary effort or inconvenience.
Save the best for last: To reserve the most enjoyable or significant item until the end.
Save a spot/place: To reserve a seat or position for someone.
Couldn't save it to save my life: Expressing inability to do something, even with great effort.
God save the King/Queen: A traditional loyal salutation or prayer for the monarch.
Save time: To do something more efficiently or quickly.
Save energy: To conserve power or personal effort.
Save the environment: To protect natural resources and ecosystems.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of save from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
