save

I UK [seɪv] / US verb
Word forms "save":
present tense I/you/we/they save he/she/it saves present participle saving past tense saved past participle saved
***

1)

a) [transitive] to make it possible for someone or something to avoid danger, harm, injury etc

campaigns to save the planet/rainforest/whale

A cure for lung cancer would save thousands of lives each year.

save someone/something from something:

Only hard work will save this company from bankruptcy.

b) in the Christian religion, to make someone no longer be influenced by the power of evil so that they can go to heaven when they die

2) [transitive] to avoid using something such as money, time, or energy, or to use less of it

You can save £25 if you buy your tickets before Saturday.

Travelling by plane is more expensive, but it saves time.

save someone something:

Democrats argue their plan will save the government money in the future.

save something on something:

Save up to £10 on your next purchase with this coupon.

3) [transitive] to make it possible for someone to avoid doing something

Setting down clear rules from the start will save arguments later on.

save someone something:

If you get some milk on your way home, it'll save me a trip to the shops.

save someone doing something:

If you could tell her, that would save me phoning her.

save someone the trouble/bother/expense (of doing something):

Buying a machine with a grass box saves you the bother of raking up the grass.

4) [transitive] to keep or store something so that you can use it in the future

save something for someone/something:

Let's have one piece of cake now and save the rest for later.

Save some energy for the end of the race.

a) save or save up

[transitive] to collect a set of things and keep them for a particular purpose

Save eight tokens and you can get one of these amazing pens!

b) save or save up

[intransitive/transitive] to regularly put money in a bank or invest it so that you can use it later

I've managed to save almost £500 for my holiday.

save for:

Don't wait until you're 40 to start saving for retirement.

save to do something:

We've been saving to buy a new car.

c) [transitive] to keep something for someone by making sure that other people do not take it

save something for someone:

Would you please save a place in the queue for me?

save someone something:

Save me some dinner and I'll have it when I get in.

5) [intransitive/transitive] to make a computer keep information that you have put into it

Where did you save the file you were working on?

It's a good idea to save frequently.

6) [intransitive/transitive] if a goalkeeper saves a ball in a sport such as football, they prevent the ball from going into the net

Dearden saved a penalty in the second half.

•

save the day/situation — to do something that prevents a situation from becoming unpleasant, embarrassing, or unsuccessful

I locked myself out but Yuki had her keys and saved the day.

save someone's skin/neck/bacon — informal to help someone or yourself to avoid a difficult or unpleasant situation, especially in a way that is not very brave

You tried to use my name to save your neck.

- not be able to do something to save your life

- save your breath

- save face

- save someone from themselves

- save someone's life

Phrasal verbs:

- save on

- save up

II UK [seɪv] / US noun [countable]
Word forms "save":
singular save plural saves

an action by a goalkeeper that prevents a ball from going into the net in a sport such as football

III UK [seɪv] / US preposition formal

except

No one, save perhaps his wife, knows where he is.

save for:

The room was completely dark, save for one candle burning in the corner.

save that:

We know little about his childhood, save that his family was poor.