save
save — verb
1. to take action so that someone or something is no longer in danger of being hurt
to take action so that someone or something is no longer in danger of being hurt, killed, or ruined.
The firefighter saved three children from the burning building.
save + person + from [danger]
Kofi's quick thinking saved the factory from total destruction when the fire started.
A local charity saved the old library from being torn down for new apartments.
Heather saved her little brother from drowning at the crowded beach.
The rescue team saved the hikers before the storm reached the mountain.
文法句型
save + noun/pronoun + from + noun
用法筆記
Frequently used with 'from' to name the specific danger being removed. Object can be a person, animal, or thing.
常見錯誤
2. to keep a person or animal from dying, especially through medical help or urgent
to keep a person or animal from dying, especially through medical help or urgent action.
The new drug treatment saved hundreds of cancer patients last year.
Tomás received a medal for saving a climber who fell into a frozen river.
save + [person] + who + [action]
A simple vaccine can save millions of children from deadly diseases.
The ambulance arrived just in time to save the accident victim.
Doctors saved the injured woman's life with an emergency surgery.
- revive
specifically means bringing someone back from near death or unconsciousness
- keep alive
less formal, focuses on continued survival
- kill
to cause someone to die
文法句型
save + noun/pronoun
save + noun/pronoun's + life
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (RESCUE FROM HARM): sense 2 specifically focuses on preventing death, while sense 1 covers broader harm including injury, destruction, or ruin. Often used in medical contexts.
3. to help someone get out of a difficult, unpleasant, or harmful situation or way
to help someone get out of a difficult, unpleasant, or harmful situation or way of life.
Lucía's generous loan saved me from having to sell my apartment.
save + [person] + from + gerund
The scholarship saved Gabriel from dropping out of university.
Kofi's advice saved the team from making a terrible business decision.
A local program saves young people from ending up on the streets.
The last-minute deal saved the company from financial ruin.
- trap
to put someone in a difficult situation
文法句型
save + noun/pronoun + from + noun/gerund
用法筆記
The situation being escaped is expressed after 'from' — it can be a noun (ruin, poverty) or a gerund (having to sell, dropping out).
4. to set aside money or other things now so that they remain available at a later
to set aside money or other things now so that they remain available at a later time, instead of spending or consuming them right away.
Sumin saves ten percent of her salary every month for retirement.
save + [percentage] + of + [income] + for + [purpose]
The family is saving money to buy a house near a good school.
save + money + to + [purpose]
Felix saved his allowance for six months to get a new bicycle.
Make sure you save some of the cake for your sister.
Shirin is saving up for a trip to Japan next spring.
文法句型
save + noun
save for + noun
save up for + noun
用法筆記
Can be used intransitively ('We are saving for a car') or transitively ('I saved the receipt'). When the goal is stated, use 'for' (save for college) or 'to' (save to buy a house).
常見錯誤
5. to copy computer data onto a storage device or cloud service so that it remains
to copy computer data onto a storage device or cloud service so that it remains available later.
Remember to save your work before you close the program.
save + [document]
Shirin saved the photos onto an external hard drive for safety.
save + [data] + onto + [storage]
The system automatically saves a copy of every file you edit.
You can save the document as a PDF from the file menu.
Élise saved her presentation to the cloud so she could access it anywhere.
文法句型
save + noun
save + noun + to/on + noun
用法筆記
Common prepositions: 'save ___ to' (a folder, drive, cloud) or 'save ___ as' (a file format like PDF or JPEG).
常見錯誤
6. to note a future date in your schedule and keep it free from other arrangements
to note a future date in your schedule and keep it free from other arrangements so that you can attend an event.
Please save the date of May 15 for our annual company party.
save the date for + [event]
Heather saved the evening of the concert so she could go with friends.
We have saved Saturday afternoon for your birthday celebration.
Tuan saved two weeks in August for his trip to Japan.
Romi and Joon sent out cards asking guests to save the date for their wedding.
文法句型
save + noun
save the date
用法筆記
Most commonly used in the fixed phrase 'save the date', which appears on invitations asking guests to mark a day on their calendar before a formal invitation arrives.
7. to reduce how much of something you use — for example, time, money, or energy —
to reduce how much of something you use — for example, time, money, or energy — so that nothing goes to waste and you do not use more than you need.
Taking the train instead of driving saves both time and money.
A programmable thermostat can save energy during the cold winter months.
save + [resource]
Élise saved two hours every day by moving closer to her office.
Buying groceries in bulk saves a family a lot of money each month.
You can save on heating costs by wearing warmer clothes indoors.
文法句型
save + noun
save on + noun
save + noun + by + gerund
用法筆記
When used intransitively ('We saved by taking the bus'), the thing saved is implied from context. The 'on' construction ('save on electricity') is common in British English.
常見錯誤
8. to stop a ball or puck from entering the goal in football, hockey, or similar sp
to stop a ball or puck from entering the goal in football, hockey, or similar sports, preventing the other team from scoring.
The goalkeeper saved a powerful shot in the final minute of the match.
Marta saved two penalty kicks during the championship game.
save + [number] + [type of kick/shot]
The goalie's quick dive saved the ball just before it crossed the line.
Felix has saved more than thirty shots this season for his team.
Lotte saved the rebound and kicked the ball safely out of the area.
- let in
to allow the ball to go into the goal
文法句型
save + noun
save a shot
save a goal
用法筆記
In American football, 'save' is not used for similar actions; use 'tackle' or 'stop' instead. The noun form 'save' is also very common in sports (see noun sense 1).
save — conjunction
1. used before a clause that explains how something you just stated is limited or n
used before a clause that explains how something you just stated is limited or not completely true.
I would have joined the trip, save that I had already made other plans.
save that + clause: formal exception
The house is perfect, save that the garden is a bit smaller than we hoped.
Nadia agreed with the proposal, save that she wanted to change one small detail.
The view from the room was lovely, save that the window faced a busy street.
- except that
the standard modern equivalent, less formal
文法句型
save that + clause
用法筆記
Highly formal and literary. In everyday speech, 'except that' is far more common. 'Save that' is typically found in written narrative or formal correspondence.
2. used to introduce an exception when the exception is a single noun, noun phrase,
used to introduce an exception when the exception is a single noun, noun phrase, or list, rather than a full clause; but or except.
No one attended the meeting save two board members who arrived late.
save + noun: formal 'except'
The store is open every day save Sunday and public holidays.
All the guests save one had already left when the power went out.
Nothing was salvageable save a few old photographs from the attic.
文法句型
save + noun/noun phrase
用法筆記
This conjunction sense is very close to the preposition sense (see preposition entry). The difference is that the conjunction governs a full clause or noun phrase as an exception, while the preposition simply introduces an exception before a noun. Both are highly formal.
save — noun
1. an action by a goalkeeper or defender that stops the ball or puck from entering
an action by a goalkeeper or defender that stops the ball or puck from entering the goal and prevents the other team from scoring.
The goalkeeper made a brilliant save in the first half of the match.
make a save
Fans cheered when the goalie's save kept their team in the game.
That was one of the best saves I have seen all season.
The keeper's quick save stopped what looked like a certain goal.
- stop
more general term, especially in British football commentary
文法句型
make a save
a brilliant save
用法筆記
Collocates strongly with 'make' (make a save) rather than 'do' or 'take'. Countable: one save, two saves.
2. a baseball statistic awarded to a relief pitcher who enters a game with the team
a baseball statistic awarded to a relief pitcher who enters a game with the team leading by three runs or fewer and finishes the game without losing the lead.
The pitcher earned his tenth save of the season last night.
earn + save: baseball context
The relief pitcher recorded a save by striking out the final two batters.
The closer needs three more saves to break the team record.
The closer's save percentage dropped after last night's loss to the Tigers.
文法句型
earn a save
record a save
用法筆記
A 'save' in baseball has specific statistical conditions set by MLB rules: the pitcher must be the final pitcher, must not be the winning pitcher, and must meet one of three entry conditions. The abbreviation 'SV' appears in baseball statistics.
save — preposition
1. not including; other than — used to name the only person or thing that is not in
not including; other than — used to name the only person or thing that is not included in a statement.
Everyone save Tuan had already finished the assignment before the deadline.
everyone save + [name]: formal exception
The museum is open every day save Monday.
every [day] save + [exception]
All the offices save the main branch will close early today.
Nothing save a miracle could save the team from losing.
- except
the standard modern equivalent, neutral register
- except for
slightly more natural in spoken English
文法句型
save + noun/pronoun
用法筆記
Formal or literary; in everyday English, 'except' or 'except for' is used instead. Position is always before the noun or pronoun that is the exception.