save

To save something is to keep it in a place for future use:

• He saves his money in a bank.
• She saved all of the letters that her boyfriend wrote to her.
• You can save meat in a freezer for a long time.
• They don’t save their old clothes. Instead, they give them away to people who need them.
• We should save this old table in the attic.
• I saved some pictures on the computer’s hard drive.
• Let’s save this for later.

You can also save a person or an animal from a bad situation:

• The lifeguard saved the little girl who was about to drown in the swimming pool.
• Doctors work hard to save the lives of patients who suffer from serious diseases.
• It’s important to try to save animals endangered by human activity.

• The community group wants to save the old building from demolition. (Sometimes the word "save" is synoymous with the words "preserve" and "protect.")
• Environmentalists want to save polar bears that are threatened by global climate change.
• He wants to help save our planet.

The words "save" or "savings" can be used as a noun:

• That was a good save! (This expression is often used in sports when a defending player prevents a score or a goal.)
• The goalie made a good save.
• Click on save.* (for a computer)
• The savings really add up if you use coupons. (Use "savings" for money.)
• He keeps his life savings in the bank.

*Note: It’s important to save your work when you work on a computer. The word "save" is found in a drop-down menu when you click on "file."

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First published on June 18, 2013.

Updated on July 22, 2017.