Keep vs. Save — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 25, 2023
"Keep" means to retain possession or maintain a condition, while "Save" means to rescue from harm or set aside for future use.
Difference Between Keep and Save
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Keep" often refers to having and retaining possession of something. For instance, when someone says, "You can keep it," they're allowing the other person to have and retain that item. On the other hand, "Save" often indicates preserving something for later or protecting it from being lost or wasted. For instance, saving money means setting it aside for future use.
In some contexts, "Keep" emphasizes maintenance or continuance. When one says, "Keep the change," it means to maintain possession of the leftover money. In contrast, "Save" might be used to indicate protection or rescue, such as in the phrase "Save the date," where a specific date is being reserved or set aside.
"Keep" can also imply a sustained state or condition. For example, "Keep quiet" means to remain silent. "Save," however, can suggest a prevention of potential loss or waste, as in "Save energy" which means to conserve or not waste energy.
At times, both words might seem interchangeable, like in data contexts. "Keep a copy" and "Save a copy" both indicate retaining a version of a document. However, "Save" often suggests an active action of storing, while "Keep" implies continued possession.
In essence, while both "Keep" and "Save" deal with retention and preservation, "Keep" is more about maintaining possession or state, and "Save" leans more toward active protection, reservation, or prevention of loss.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Meaning
To retain possession.
To rescue from harm or set aside.
Implication
Maintenance or continuance.
Protection, reservation, or prevention of loss.
Examples
Keep the change, keep quiet.
Save money, save the date.
Context of Use
Sustained state or condition.
Active action of storing or conserving.
Overlap in Usage
In data contexts (e.g., keep a copy).
In data contexts (e.g., save a copy).
Compare with Definitions
Keep
To retain possession of something.
She let me keep the book after I finished reading it.
Save
To rescue from danger or harm.
The lifeguard rushed to save the drowning child.
Keep
To provide for the sustenance of someone.
His job keeps his family fed and clothed.
Save
To set something aside for later use.
I save a portion of my salary every month.
Keep
To confine or restrain.
The dog was kept in the backyard.
Save
To prevent the waste or loss of.
Turn off the lights to save electricity.
Keep
A keep (from the Middle English kype) is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the castle fall to an adversary.
Save
Except; other than.
No one knew about the surprise, save for her closest friend.
Keep
To retain possession of
Kept the change.
Must keep your composure.
Save
To rescue from harm, danger, or loss
The lifeguard saved the struggling swimmer.
Keep
To have as a supply
Keep spare parts in case of emergency.
Save
To prevent from dying
The doctors saved the patient.
Keep
To provide (a family, for example) with maintenance and support
"There's little to earn and many to keep" (Charles Kingsley).
Save
To set free from the consequences of sin; redeem
Prayed to save his soul.
Keep
To support (a mistress or lover) financially.
Save
To keep in a safe or healthy condition
God save King Richard!.
Keep
To put customarily; store
Where do you keep your saw?.
Save
To hold back for future use
Saved his best song for the encore.
Keep
To supply with room and board for a charge
Keep boarders.
Save
To avoid spending (money) so as to keep or accumulate it.
Keep
To raise
Keep chickens.
Save
To avoid spending (money or time) in an amount less than what circumstances normally require
Saved $25 at the sale.
Saved 15 minutes by taking a shortcut.
Keep
To maintain for use or service
An urbanite who didn't keep a car.
Save
To prevent the waste or loss of; conserve
Bought an efficient device that saves electricity.
Keep
To manage, tend, or have charge of
Keep the shop while I'm away.
Save
To treat with care by avoiding fatigue, wear, or damage; spare
Wore sunglasses to save his eyesight.
Keep
To preserve (food).
Save
To make unnecessary; obviate
By carrying two bags you can save an extra trip.
Keep
To cause to continue in a state, condition, or course of action
Tried to keep the patient calm.
Save
To spare (someone) from having to do something.
Keep
To maintain records or entries in
Keep a yearly diary.
Save
(Sports) To prevent (a goal) from being scored by blocking a shot. Used of a goalie.
Keep
To enter (data) in a book
Keep financial records.
Save
To prevent an opponent from scoring (a point).
Keep
To detain
Was kept after school.
Save
To preserve a victory in (a game).
Keep
To restrain
Kept the child away from the stove.
Kept the crowd back with barriers.
Save
(Baseball) To preserve (another pitcher's win) by protecting one's team's lead during a stint of relief pitching.
Keep
To prevent or deter
Tried to keep the ice from melting.
Save
(Computers) To copy (a file) from a computer's main memory to a disk or other storage medium.
Keep
To refrain from divulging
Keep a secret.
Save
To avoid waste or expense; economize.
Keep
To save; reserve
Keep extra money for emergencies.
Save
To accumulate money
Saving for a vacation.
Keep
To adhere or conform to; follow
Keep late hours.
Save
To preserve a person or thing from harm or loss.
Keep
To be faithful to; fulfill
Keep one's word.
Save
(Sports) An act that prevents a ball or puck from entering a goal.
Keep
To celebrate; observe
Keep the Sabbath.
Save
(Baseball) A preservation by a relief pitcher of another pitcher's win.
Keep
To remain in a state or condition; stay
Keep in line.
Keep quiet.
Kept well.
Save
With the exception of; except
"No man enjoys self-reproach save a masochist" (Philip Wylie).
Keep
To continue to do
Keep on talking.
Keep guessing.
Save
Were it not; except
The house would be finished by now, save that we had difficulty contracting a roofer.
Keep
To remain fresh or unspoiled
The dessert won't keep.
Save
Unless.
Keep
To restrain oneself; hold oneself back
I couldn't keep from eavesdropping.
Save
(transitive) To prevent harm or difficulty.
Keep
Care; charge
The child is in my keep for the day.
Save
To help (somebody) to survive, or rescue (somebody or something) from harm.
She was saved from drowning by a passer-by.
We were able to save a few of our possessions from the house fire.
Keep
The means by which one is supported
Earn one's keep.
Save
To keep (something) safe; to safeguard.
Keep
The stronghold of a castle.
Save
To spare (somebody) from effort, or from something undesirable.
Keep
A jail.
Save
(Christianity) To redeem or protect someone from eternal damnation.
Jesus Christ came to save sinners.
Keep
To continue in (a course or mode of action); to not intermit or fall from; to uphold or maintain.
To keep silence;
To keep possession
Save
(sports) To catch or deflect (a shot at goal).
Keep
To remain faithful to a given promise or word.
To keep one's word;
To keep one's promise
Save
(baseball) To preserve, as a relief pitcher, (a win of another pitcher's on one's team) by defending the lead held when the other pitcher left the game.
Keep
(transitive) To hold the status of something.
Save
To put aside, to avoid.
Keep
To maintain possession of.
I keep a small stock of painkillers for emergencies.
Save
(transitive) To store for future use.
Let's save the packaging in case we need to send the product back.
Keep
To maintain the condition of; to preserve in a certain state.
I keep my specimens under glass to protect them.
The abundance of squirrels kept the dogs running for hours.
Save
(transitive) To conserve or prevent the wasting of.
Save electricity by turning off the lights when you leave the room.
Keep
(transitive) To record transactions, accounts, or events in.
I used to keep a diary.
Save
(transitive) To obviate or make unnecessary.
Keep
(transitive) To enter (accounts, records, etc.) in a book.
Save
To write a file to disk or other storage medium.
Where did I save that document? I can't find it on the desktop.
Keep
(archaic) To remain in; to be confined to.
Save
(intransitive) To economize or avoid waste.
Keep
To restrain.
I keep my pet gerbil away from my brother.
Don't let me keep you; I know you have things to be doing.
Save
To accumulate money or valuables.
Keep
(with from) To watch over, look after, guard, protect.
May the Lord keep you from harm.
Save
To refrain from romantic or (especially in later use) sexual relationships until one is married or is with a suitable partner.
She told me she's saving herself for marriage.
Keep
To supply with necessities and financially support (a person).
He kept a mistress for over ten years.
Save
An instance of preventing (further) harm or difficulty.
Keep
(of living things) To raise; to care for.
He has been keeping orchids since retiring.
Save
In various sports, a block that prevents an opponent from scoring.
The goaltender made a great save.
Keep
To refrain from freely disclosing (a secret).
Save
(baseball) A successful attempt by a relief pitcher to preserve the win of another pitcher on one's team.
Jones retired seven to earn the save.
Keep
To maintain (an establishment or institution); to conduct; to manage.
Save
A point in a professional wrestling match when one or more wrestlers run to the ring to aid a fellow wrestler who is being beaten.
The giant wrestler continued to beat down his smaller opponent, until several wrestlers ran in for the save.
Keep
To have habitually in stock for sale.
Save
(informal) An action that brings one back out of an awkward situation.
Nice save.
Keep
(intransitive) To hold or be held in a state.
Save
(computing) The act, process, or result of saving data to a storage medium.
If you're hit by a power cut, you'll lose all of your changes since your last save.
The game console can store up to eight saves on a single cartridge.
Keep
(obsolete) To reside for a time; to lodge; to dwell.
She kept to her bed while the fever lasted.
Save
(RPG) A saving throw.
Keep
To continue.
I keep taking the tablets, but to no avail.
Save
Except; with the exception of.
Keep
To remain edible or otherwise usable.
Potatoes can keep if they are in a root cellar.
Latex paint won't keep indefinitely.
Save
Unless; except
Keep
(copulative) To remain in a state.
The rabbit avoided detection by keeping still.
Keep calm! There's no need to panic.
Save
The herb sage, or salvia.
Keep
(obsolete) To wait for, keep watch for.
Save
To make safe; to procure the safety of; to preserve from injury, destruction, or evil of any kind; to rescue from impending danger; as, to save a house from the flames.
God save all this fair company.
He cried, saying, Lord, save me.
Thou hast . . . quitted all to saveA world from utter loss.
Keep
To act as wicket-keeper.
Godfrey Evans kept for England for many years.
Save
Specifically, to deliver from sin and its penalty; to rescue from a state of condemnation and spiritual death, and bring into a state of spiritual life.
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
Keep
To take care; to be solicitous; to watch.
Save
To keep from being spent or lost; to secure from waste or expenditure; to lay up; to reserve.
Now save a nation, and now save a groat.
Keep
To be in session; to take place.
School keeps today.
Save
To rescue from something undesirable or hurtful; to prevent from doing something; to spare.
I'll save youThat labor, sir. All's now done.
Keep
(transitive) To observe; to adhere to; to fulfill; to not swerve from or violate.
Save
To hinder from doing, suffering, or happening; to obviate the necessity of; to prevent; to spare.
Will you not speak to save a lady's blush?
Keep
To visit (a place) often; to frequent.
Save
To hold possession or use of; to escape loss of.
Just saving the tide, and putting in a stock of merit.
Keep
To observe or celebrate (a holiday).
The feast of St. Stephen is kept on December 26.
Save
To avoid unnecessary expense or expenditure; to prevent waste; to be economical.
Brass ordnance saveth in the quantity of the material.
Keep
(historical) The main tower of a castle or fortress, located within the castle walls.
Save
Except; excepting; not including; leaving out; deducting; reserving; saving.
Five times received I forty stripes save one.
Keep
The food or money required to keep someone alive and healthy; one's support, maintenance.
He works as a cobbler's apprentice for his keep.
Save
Except; unless.
Keep
(obsolete) The act or office of keeping; custody; guard; care; heed; charge; notice.
Save
(sports) the act of preventing the opposition from scoring;
The goalie made a brilliant save
The relief pitcher got credit for a save
Keep
The state of being kept; hence, the resulting condition; case.
To be in good keep
Save
Save from ruin, destruction, or harm
Keep
(obsolete) That which is kept in charge; a charge.
Save
To keep up and reserve for personal or special use;
She saved the old family photographs in a drawer
Keep
(engineering) A cap for holding something, such as a journal box, in place.
Save
Bring into safety;
We pulled through most of the victims of the bomb attack
Keep
To care; to desire.
I kepe not of armes for to yelp [boast].
Save
Spend less; buy at a reduced price
Keep
To hold; to restrain from departure or removal; not to let go of; to retain in one's power or possession; not to lose; to retain; to detain.
If we lose the field,We can not keep the town.
That I may know what keeps me here with you.
If we would weigh and keep in our minds what we are considering, that would instruct us.
Save
Feather one's nest; have a nest egg;
He saves half his salary
Keep
To cause to remain in a given situation or condition; to maintain unchanged; to hold or preserve in any state or tenor.
His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal.
Keep a stiff rein, and move but gently on.
Save
Make unnecessary an expenditure or effort;
This will save money
I'll save you the trouble
This will save you a lot of time
Keep
To have in custody; to have in some place for preservation; to take charge of.
The crown of Stephanus, first king of Hungary, was always kept in the castle of Vicegrade.
Save
Save from sins
Keep
To preserve from danger, harm, or loss; to guard.
Behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee.
Save
Refrain from harming
Keep
To preserve from discovery or publicity; not to communicate, reveal, or betray, as a secret.
Great are thy virtues . . . though kept from man.
Save
Spend sparingly, avoid the waste of;
This move will save money
The less fortunate will have to economize now
Keep
To attend upon; to have the care of; to tend.
And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden, to dress it and to keep it.
In her girlish age, she kept sheep on the moor.
Save
Retain rights to;
Keep my job for me while I give birth
Keep my seat, please
Keep open the possibility of a merger
Keep
To record transactions, accounts, or events in; as, to keep books, a journal, etc.; also, to enter (as accounts, records, etc. ) in a book.
Save
To store data in a computing context.
Remember to save your document before shutting down the computer.
Keep
To maintain, as an establishment, institution, or the like; to conduct; to manage; as, to keep store.
Like a pedant that keeps a school.
Every one of them kept house by himself.
Keep
To supply with necessaries of life; to entertain; as, to keep boarders.
Keep
To have in one's service; to have and maintain, as an assistant, a servant, a mistress, a horse, etc.
I keep but three men and a boy.
Keep
To have habitually in stock for sale.
Keep
To continue in, as a course or mode of action; not to intermit or fall from; to hold to; to maintain; as, to keep silence; to keep one's word; to keep possession.
Both day and night did we keep company.
Within this portal as I kept my watch.
Keep
To observe; to adhere to; to fulfill; not to swerve from or violate; to practice or perform, as duty; not to neglect; to be faithful to.
I have kept the faith.
Him whom to love is to obey, and keepHis great command.
Keep
To confine one's self to; not to quit; to remain in; as, to keep one's house, room, bed, etc.; hence, to haunt; to frequent.
'Tis hallowed ground;Fairies, and fawns, and satyrs do it keep.
Keep
To observe duly, as a festival, etc.; to celebrate; to solemnize; as, to keep a feast.
I went with them to the house of God . . . with a multitude that kept holyday.
Keep
To remain in any position or state; to continue; to abide; to stay; as, to keep at a distance; to keep aloft; to keep near; to keep in the house; to keep before or behind; to keep in favor; to keep out of company, or out reach.
Keep
To last; to endure; to remain unimpaired.
If the malt be not thoroughly dried, the ale it makes will not keep.
Keep
To reside for a time; to lodge; to dwell.
Knock at his study, where, they say, he keeps.
Keep
To take care; to be solicitous; to watch.
Keep that the lusts choke not the word of God that is in us.
Keep
To be in session; as, school keeps to-day.
Keep
The act or office of keeping; custody; guard; care; heed; charge.
Pan, thou god of shepherds all,Which of our tender lambkins takest keep.
Keep
The state of being kept; hence, the resulting condition; case; as, to be in good keep.
Keep
The means or provisions by which one is kept; maintenance; support; as, the keep of a horse.
Grass equal to the keep of seven cows.
I performed some services to the college in return for my keep.
Keep
That which keeps or protects; a stronghold; a fortress; a castle; specifically, the strongest and securest part of a castle, often used as a place of residence by the lord of the castle, especially during a siege; the dungeon. See Illust. of Castle.
The prison strong,Within whose keep the captive knights were laid.
The lower chambers of those gloomy keeps.
I think . . . the keep, or principal part of a castle, was so called because the lord and his domestic circle kept, abode, or lived there.
Keep
That which is kept in charge; a charge.
Often he used of his keepA sacrifice to bring.
Keep
A cap for retaining anything, as a journal box, in place.
Keep
The financial means whereby one lives;
Each child was expected to pay for their keep
He applied to the state for support
He could no longer earn his own livelihood
Keep
The main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
Keep
A cell in a jail or prison
Keep
Keep in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g.,
Keep clean
Hold in place
She always held herself as a lady
The students keep me on my toes
Keep
Continue a certain state, condition, or activity;
Keep on working!
We continued to work into the night
Keep smiling
We went on working until well past midnight
Keep
Retain possession of;
Can I keep my old stuffed animals?
She kept her maiden name after she married
Keep
Prevent from doing something or being in a certain state;
We must prevent the cancer from spreading
His snoring kept me from falling asleep
Keep the child from eating the marbles
Keep
Conform one's action or practice to;
Keep appointments
She never keeps her promises
We kept to the original conditions of the contract
Keep
Observe correctly or closely;
The pianist kept time with the metronome
Keep count
I cannot keep track of all my employees
Keep
Look after; be the keeper of; have charge of;
He keeps the shop when I am gone
Keep
Maintain by writing regular records;
Keep a diary
Maintain a record
Keep notes
Keep
Supply with room and board;
He is keeping three women in the guest cottage
Keep boarders
Keep
Allow to remain in a place or position;
We cannot continue several servants any longer
She retains a lawyer
The family's fortune waned and they could not keep their household staff
Our grant has run out and we cannot keep you on
We kept the work going as long as we could
Keep
Supply with necessities and support;
She alone sustained her family
The money will sustain our good cause
There's little to earn and many to keep
Keep
Fail to spoil or rot;
These potatoes keep for a long time
Keep
Celebrate, as of holidays or rites;
Keep the commandments
Celebrate Christmas
Observe Yom Kippur
Keep
Keep under control; keep in check;
Suppress a smile
Keep your temper
Keep your cool
Keep
Maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger;
May God keep you
Keep
Raise;
She keeps a few chickens in the yard
He keeps bees
Keep
Retain rights to;
Keep my job for me while I give birth
Keep my seat, please
Keep open the possibility of a merger
Keep
Store or keep customarily;
Where do you keep your gardening tools?
Keep
Have as a supply;
I always keep batteries in the freezer
Keep food for a week in the pantry
She keeps a sixpack and a week's worth of supplies in the refrigerator
Keep
Maintain for use and service;
I keep a car in the countryside
She keeps an apartment in Paris for her shopping trips
Keep
Hold and prevent from leaving;
The student was kept after school
Keep
Prevent (food) from rotting;
Preserved meats
Keep potatoes fresh
Keep
To continue a specific state, condition, or activity.
Please keep walking until you reach the end of the corridor.
Keep
To maintain something in a particular place or condition.
I always keep my keys in this drawer.
Common Curiosities
What does it mean to "Save" in computing?
In computing, "Save" refers to storing data, like saving a file.
What does "Keep" typically mean?
"Keep" primarily refers to retaining possession or maintaining a condition.
How does "Keep" relate to continuation?
"Keep" can indicate the continuation of a state or action, like "keep running."
Can "Keep" and "Save" be used interchangeably?
In some contexts, especially regarding data, they can, but they usually have distinct nuances.
What does "Save" mean in terms of finances?
In finances, "Save" means to set aside money for future use.
How is "Save" generally used?
"Save" is used to denote rescuing from harm or setting something aside for future use.
Is "Keep" always about physical possession?
No, "Keep" can also refer to maintaining conditions or states, like "keep quiet."
Can "Save" suggest prevention?
Yes, "Save" can indicate preventing waste or loss, like "save water."
How does "Keep" relate to sustenance?
"Keep" can mean to provide for someone's sustenance or support, as in "keep a family."
What does "Keep" suggest in the phrase "keep a secret"?
It suggests retaining information without revealing it.
How does "Keep" relate to confinement?
"Keep" can mean to confine or restrain, like keeping someone in a room.
What's an example of "Save" in the sense of "except"?
"Everyone attended, save for John," meaning John was the exception.
Can "Keep" indicate permission?
Yes, as in "You can keep it," suggesting permission to retain possession.
Does "Save" always suggest a positive action?
Mostly, but context matters. "Save" can be neutral, as in data storage.
How does "Save" relate to protection?
"Save" can denote protecting something or someone from potential harm or danger.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
