Saved

/seɪvd/

verbBeginner🔥Very CommonBusiness
3 meanings2 idioms/phrases4 questions

Definitions

3 meanings
1

To prevent someone or something from being harmed or destroyed; to rescue or protect.

/seɪvd/

verbpositiveBeginner
Business

To keep safe or rescue someone or something from harm or danger.

The firefighter saved the kitten from the burning building.

💡 Simply: Think of saving as stepping in to keep someone or something from a bad situation. Like saving a puppy from a scary noise, or keeping money safe in a piggy bank!

👶 For kids: When you keep someone or something safe from danger, you save them!

More Examples

2

They saved the historic building from demolition.

3

I saved a copy of the file on my computer.

How It's Used

General

"He saved the child from drowning."

Financial

"She saved a significant amount of money for retirement."

Computer Science

"Make sure you saved the document before closing the program."

2

To set aside or keep for future use.

/seɪvd/

verbneutralBeginner
Arts

To reserve something for later or for a specific purpose.

She saved the last cookie for her brother.

💡 Simply: When you save something, it's like putting it aside to use later. Like saving a seat at the movie theater for your friend or saving a yummy dessert for after dinner!

👶 For kids: When you put something aside to use later, you save it!

More Examples

2

I need to save some energy for the marathon.

3

The website saved my progress.

How It's Used

Financial

"He saved money for a new car."

General

"We saved the last piece of cake for you."

Computer Science

"The program saved the file."

Tip:Think of saving a piece of a cake, so someone has something nice later.
3

To store data or information to a device or system so that it can be accessed later.

/seɪvd/

verbneutralmedium
Technology

To prevent an error or damage to data.

Make sure to save your progress before closing the game.

💡 Simply: In computer terms, it means securing your work so it's not lost, like storing your drawing on your tablet, so that it doesn't vanish!

👶 For kids: To keep your work from being gone, you can save it!

More Examples

2

The website automatically saved my password.

3

I always save important files to a backup drive.

How It's Used

Computer Science

"I saved the document to my computer."

General

"Saving this program prevents your work from being lost."

Tip:Imagine storing a file so it will be available later.

Idioms & expressions

save face

To avoid embarrassment or humiliation.

"He made a joke to save face after he forgot the speech."

save the day

To prevent a bad situation from happening or making a situation successful.

"The last-minute donation saved the day for the charity."

From Old French *salver* and Latin *salvāre* meaning 'to save, rescue, preserve', related to *salvus* meaning 'safe, healthy'.

Used in religious contexts to refer to spiritual salvation from the Middle Ages, and financial contexts by the 16th century.

Memory tip

Imagine someone giving a life raft (save) to someone drowning.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"safe, healthy"

save moneysave timesave facesave the daysaved the filesaved his life

Common misspellings

savdsavadsavved

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written