# saving

/ˈseɪvɪŋ/ (US) · /sˈeɪvɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/saving
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. money kept for the future

noun · CEFR B1

the money you have kept and not spent, usually in a bank account.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. a reduction in cost

noun · CEFR B1

an amount of money or time that you do not have to use or spend.

For teachers: a reduction in the amount of a resource, such as time or money, required for a specific purpose.

- 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.

### 3. redemptive or rescuing

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

something that rescues someone or makes a bad situation better.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. except for

preposition · CEFR C2 · Formal · Literary

a formal way to say 'except' or 'but'.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- Switching to LED bulbs results in a significant energy saving.
- The new procurement process achieved a ten percent saving on office supplies compared to the previous fiscal year.
- While the initial investment in solar panels is substantial, the long-term saving on utility bills eventually offsets the upfront costs and provides a net financial benefit.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.