saving — English Dictionary

Noun

1. A reduction in cost or expenditure.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   The shift of the supplier gave us a saving of 10 percent.

   This new yard will replace a group of out-of-date yards, and there will be an estimated net saving of £150,000 a year.

2. Something (usually money) that is saved, particularly money that has been set aside for the future.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • plural-normally

   Examples

   I invested all my savings in gold.

   The collapse of Enron wiped out the life savings of many people, leaving them poor in their retirement.

   More examples (1)

   “Rather than writing off both jets as a loss … teams made a bold decision in 2022 to remove the nose from AF-27 and put it onto AF-211 to maximize savings and add back an operational aircraft to the fleet,” a report from the F-35 JPO said.

3. The action of the verb to save.

   Usage

   • Uncountable

4. Exception; reservation.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Obsolete
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   saving and transitional provisions

   More examples (1)

   Tis Good Advice not to Contend with Thoſe that are too Strong for us, but ſtill with a ſaving to Honeſty and Juſtice, for the Integrity of the Mind must be ſupported againſt All Violence and Hazzards whatſoever.

Adjective

1. That saves someone from damnation; redemptive.

2. Preserving; rescuing.

   Examples

   He is the saving strength of his anointed.

3. Thrifty; frugal.

   Examples

   More examples (2)

   Hutchins has been a saving man all his life, and he has received good wages. Among his class he is regarded as wealthy. I daresay that he has five hundred pounds in the bank.

   Three of her bairns were drowned at sea, fishing off the Bervie braes they had been, but the fourth, the boy Cospatric, him that died the same day as the Old Queen, he was douce and saving and sensible, and set putting the estate to rights.

4. Bringing back in returns or in receipts the sum expended; incurring no loss, though not gainful.

   Examples

   a saving bargain

   The ship has made a saving voyage.

5. Making reservation or exception.

   Examples

   a saving clause

6. Relating to making a saving.

   Usage

   • In compounds

   Examples

   labour-saving

   energy-saving light bulbs

Preposition

1. Synonym of save (“except for”)

   Examples

   And in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

2. Without disrespect to.

   Examples

   I should be ruled by the fiend, who, saving your reverence, is the devil himself.

   Saving your presence.

Adjective

1. bringing about salvation or redemption from sin

   Synonyms

   redemptiveredeeming

   Examples

   saving faith

   redemptive (or redeeming) love

2. characterized by thriftiness

Noun

1. an act of economizing; reduction in cost

   Synonyms

   economy

   Broader terms

   action

   Examples

   it was a small economy to walk to work every day

   there was a saving of 50 cents

2. recovery or preservation from loss or danger

   Synonyms

   rescuedeliverancedelivery

   Broader terms

   recoveryretrieval

   Examples

   work is the deliverance of mankind

   a surgeon's job is the saving of lives

3. the activity of protecting something from loss or danger

   Synonyms

   preservation

   Broader terms

   protection