Word
saving
Phoneticssav·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈseɪvɪŋ/
UK/sˈeɪvɪŋ/
Definitions
01money kept for the future
B1 · Intermediate Plural noun
n. the money you have kept and not spent, usually in a bank account.
n. the accumulation of money set aside for future use rather than immediate consumption; typically used in the plural.
“She used her savings to buy a new car after her old one broke down.”
“After years of disciplined budgeting, they had accumulated enough savings to provide a substantial down payment on their first home.”
Pitfall
I have a lot of saving in the bank.
I have a lot of savings in the bank.
When referring to the money you have kept, use the plural form 'savings'.
02a reduction in cost
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. an amount of money or time that you do not have to use or spend.
n. a reduction in the amount of a resource, such as time or money, required for a specific purpose.
Español:ahorro
“Buying the larger box offers a saving of two dollars.”
“The new insulation system resulted in a significant saving on the factory's annual energy expenditure.”
03redemptive or rescuing
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. something that rescues someone or makes a bad situation better.
adj. having the property of rescuing from harm, failure, or moral damnation.
“His sense of humor was his only saving grace in a very difficult meeting.”
“The protagonist's saving act of courage at the end of the novel provides a sense of moral resolution for the reader.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
04except for
C2 · Proficiency Formal · Literary
prep. a formal way to say 'except' or 'but'.
prep. excluding; with the exception of. Often used in formal or literary contexts.
“The room was empty saving for a single wooden chair in the corner.”
“The contract was finalized and agreed upon by all parties, saving for a minor clause regarding the delivery schedule.”
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “saving” in context.
Verb
01. accumulate savings
“She managed to accumulate significant savings by working two jobs during the summer.”
verb + noun
02. dip into savings
“We had to dip into our savings to pay for the unexpected car repairs.”
verb + prep + noun
03. represent a saving of money
“Switching to a renewable energy provider could represent a saving of money for most households.”
verb + noun + of + noun
Adjective
04. saving grace
“The film was quite boring, but the beautiful cinematography was its only saving grace.”
adj + noun
05. substantial saving
“Buying the equipment in bulk resulted in a substantial saving for the department.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. cost saving
“The company implemented several cost saving measures to avoid laying off staff.”
noun + noun
07. life-saving surgery
“The patient is recovering well after undergoing life-saving surgery last night.”
adj + noun + noun
Preposition
08. saving for a house
“They are currently living with their parents while saving for a house of their own.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“Her savings pay for things she cannot get for free: this year the big thing she was saving for was the college ski trip.” “The costs appear immediately, while the savings arrive years later – often benefiting a different government.” Etymology
From save + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/saving
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0