51Թ

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View synonyms for

safe

[ seyf ]

adjective

safer, safest.
  1. secure from liability to harm, injury, danger, or risk:

    a safe place.

    Synonyms: ,

  2. free from hurt, injury, danger, or risk:

    to arrive safe and sound.

  3. involving little or no risk of mishap, error, etc.:

    a safe estimate.

  4. dependable or trustworthy:

    a safe guide.

    Synonyms: ,

  5. careful to avoid danger or controversy:

    a safe player; a safe play.

    Synonyms: ,

  6. denied the chance to do harm; in secure custody:

    a criminal safe in jail.

  7. Baseball.
    1. reaching base without being put out:

      safe on the throw to first base.

    2. making it possible to reach a base:

      a safe slide.



adverb

  1. Informal. in a safe manner; safely:

    Learn how to drive safe.

noun

  1. a steel or iron box or repository for money, jewels, papers, etc.

    Synonyms: , , ,

  2. any receptacle or structure for the storage or preservation of articles:

    a meat safe.

  3. (in plumbing)
    1. a pan for catching leakage.
  4. Slang. a condom.

safe

/ ɪ /

adjective

  1. affording security or protection from harm

    a safe place

  2. postpositive free from danger

    you'll be safe here

  3. secure from risk; certain; sound

    a safe investment

    a safe bet

  4. worthy of trust; prudent

    a safe companion

  5. tending to avoid controversy or risk

    a safe player

  6. unable to do harm; not dangerous

    a criminal safe behind bars

    water safe to drink

  7. informal.
    excellent
  8. on the safe side
    as a precaution
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adverb

  1. in a safe condition

    the children are safe in bed now

  2. play safe
    to act in a way least likely to cause danger, controversy, or defeat
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a strong container, usually of metal and provided with a secure lock, for storing money or valuables
  2. a small ventilated cupboard-like container for storing food
  3. a slang word for condom
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈڱԱ, noun
  • ˈڱ, adverb
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • ڱ· adverb
  • ڱ·Ա noun
  • ܲ·-ڱ adjective
  • ··ڱ adjective
  • su·per·ڱ·Ա noun
  • ܱ·ٰ·ڱ adjective
  • ܲ·ڱ adjective
  • un·ڱ·Ա noun
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of safe1

First recorded in 1250–1300; (adjective) Middle English sauf, saf from Anglo-French saf, Old French sauf from Latin salvus “intact, whole”; (noun) late Middle English save, originally derivative of save 1, assimilated to the adjective; salvation
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of safe1

C13: from Old French salf, from Latin salvus; related to Latin salus safety
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Idioms and Phrases

  1. play it safe, play ( def 85 ).

More idioms and phrases containing safe

  • better safe than sorry
  • on the safe side
  • play it safe
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Synonym Study

Safe, secure can both imply that something can be regarded as free from danger. These words are frequently interchangeable. Safe, however, is applied rather to a person or thing that is out of or has passed beyond the reach of danger: The ship is safe in port. Secure is applied to that about which there is no need to fear or worry: to feel secure about the future; The foundation of the house does not seem very secure.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La. – who voted down the measure on reversing Canada duties – told CNN that the president’s calculation that tariffs would shift manufacturing back in the long run wasn’t a safe bet.

From

This is before the Progressive Era, and before the New Deal that made for government regulation of the economy and safe labor conditions, minimum wages and things like that; a recognition of unions.

From

"It just shows and exemplifies the fact that nowhere on Earth is safe from this," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday.

From

A musician who took part in the protest march told the BBC that "we need to create a safe environment for our children".

From

That said, for those about to draw on investments, it may be more worrying, albeit that most pension savings are moved into safer holdings like cash or bonds as people approach retirement age.

From

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More About Safe

What is a basic definition ofsafe?

Safe describes something that is secure from harm or danger. Safe can also refer to something that is free from danger and is not risky. Safe is a secure object that is used to keep valuables in. Safe has several other senses as an adjective, noun, and adverb.

Safe means that something or someone is secured. If you’re safe, you don’t have to worry about getting hurt or being at risk. The word safety means something is intended to help avoid risk or the state of not being at risk.

Real-life examples: Babies are usually kept in cribs or limited to certain parts of a house so that they will be kept safe and won’t wander into danger. Eggs are kept in special containers designed to keep them safe from cracking. Athletes often wear equipment such as helmets that keep their sensitive body parts safe (or safer) from injury.

Used in a sentence: The scared child felt safe with their father and mother.

Safe also means something or someone avoided danger or managed to come through an event unhurt. This sense is often used in the phrase safe and sound.

Real-life examples: Firefighters, police, and paramedics won’t relax or leave a scene until they know everyone is safe. Family members of people stuck in a dangerous situation hope they will be safe.

Used in a sentence: Somehow, Ebony made it out safe and sound after falling into the lion exhibit.

Safe can also mean that something is not risky or is unlikely to be wrong.

Real-life examples: In gambling, safe bets usually have low prizes. Companies that are already very successful and financially secure are usually considered safe investments. It is a safe guess to say it will rain if you already see thunderclouds and lightning.

Used in a sentence: We took the safe way home by walking together on brightly lit streets.

A safe is a secure box or similar object that is designed to protect valuables from being stolen or damaged.

Real-life examples: Banks and stores often keep cash locked in a safe. You might keep your cherished things in a small safe that has a lock and key.

Used in a sentence: Jadyn keeps his gold coins in an iron safe hidden behind a painting on the wall.

Where doessafe come from?

The first records of safe come from around 1250. It ultimately comes from the Latin salvus, meaning “intact” or “whole.”

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to safe?

  • safely (adverb)
  • safeness (noun)
  • quasi-safe (adjective)
  • quasi-safely (adverb)

What are some synonyms for safe?

What are some words that share a root or word element with safe?

What are some words that often get used in discussing safe?

How issafe used in real life?

Safe is a common word that is often used to refer to not being in danger or at risk.

Try usingsafe!

Is safe used correctly in the following sentence?

He didn’t want to risk taking the safe path with many dangerous twists and turns next to steep cliffs.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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