safe

[ seyf ]

/ seɪf /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR safe ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, saf·er, saf·est.

secure from liability to harm, injury, danger, or risk: a safe place.

free from hurt, injury, danger, or risk: to arrive safe and sound.

involving little or no risk of mishap, error, etc.: a safe estimate.

dependable or trustworthy: a safe guide.

careful to avoid danger or controversy: a safe player; a safe play.

denied the chance to do harm; in secure custody: a criminal safe in jail.

Baseball.

reaching base without being put out: safe on the throw to first base.
making it possible to reach a base: a safe slide.

adverb

Informal. in a safe manner; safely: Learn how to drive safe. See Grammar note at adverb.

noun

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

any receptacle or structure for the storage or preservation of articles: a meat safe.

(in plumbing)

a pan for catching leakage.
template(def 7).

Slang. a condom.

Idioms for safe

play it safe, play(def 85).

Origin of safe

1250–1300; (adj.) Middle English sauf, saf < Anglo-French saf, Old French sauf < Latin salvus intact, whole; (noun) late Middle English save, orig. derivative of save¹, assimilated to the adj.; cf. salvation

SYNONYMS FOR safe

1 protected, sound, guarded. Safe, secure may 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.

4 sure, reliable.

5 wary, careful.

9 strongbox, coffer, chest, safe-deposit box.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR safe ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM safe

safe·ly, adverb safe·ness, noun qua·si-safe, adjective qua·si-safe·ly, adverb

su·per·safe, adjective su·per·safe·ly, adverb su·per·safe·ness, noun ul·tra·safe, adjective un·safe, adjective un·safe·ly, adverb un·safe·ness, noun

Words nearby safe

safari jacket, safari park, safari shirt, safari suit, safavid, safe, safe and sound, safe area, safe as houses, safe harbor, safe house

Example sentences from the Web for safe

And it must make sure that the platform of debate where we can freely exchange ideas is safe and sound.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Our Duty Is to Keep Charlie Hebdo Alive |Ayaan Hirsi Ali |January 8, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
They called for peace, reconciliation, and the safe return of Father Gregorio.

Mexico’s Priests Are Marked for Murder |Jason McGahan |January 7, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
Their leader, Njie, still going by “Dave” during the operation, would stay a safe distance away until the State House was secure.

The Shadowy U.S. Veteran Who Tried to Overthrow a Country |Jacob Siegel |January 6, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
“We wish each and every one of you a happy and safe new year,” Giorgio said at the very end.

Cop Families Boo De Blasio at NYPD Graduation |Michael Daly |December 30, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

The two parties—mother and son, and monster—live in the same house, and are safe and healthy.

Grief: The Real Monster in The Babadook |Tim Teeman |December 19, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
She will be safe when she reaches there, which will be in a few minutes now.

Medoline Selwyn's Work |Mrs. J. J. Colter
The pocket in the hills in which they lay was surely a safe and comfortable place, and one need be in no hurry to abandon it.

The Great Sioux Trail |Joseph Altsheler
In her extremity she saw the mouth of the alley, dodged in, and was safe.

The Battle with the Slum |Jacob A. Riis.
They thought it much pleasanter than the bottom of the pond, but it was not so safe.

Among the Pond People |Clara Dillingham Pierson
But Mr Nearthewinde is a safe man, and easy to be employed with but little danger.

Doctor Thorne |Anthony Trollope

British Dictionary definitions for safe

safe

/ (seɪf) /

adjective

affording security or protection from harm a safe place

(postpositive) free from danger you'll be safe here

secure from risk; certain; sound a safe investment; a safe bet

worthy of trust; prudent a safe companion

tending to avoid controversy or risk a safe player

unable to do harm; not dangerous a criminal safe behind bars; water safe to drink

British informal excellent

on the safe side as a precaution

adverb

in a safe condition the children are safe in bed now

play safe to act in a way least likely to cause danger, controversy, or defeat

noun

a strong container, usually of metal and provided with a secure lock, for storing money or valuables

a small ventilated cupboard-like container for storing food

US and Canadian a slang word for condom

Derived forms of safe

safely, adverb safeness, noun

Word Origin for safe

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

Idioms and Phrases with safe

safe

In addition to the idioms beginning with safe

safe and sound
safe as houses

also see:

better safe than sorry
on the safe side
play it safe

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

safe

adjective, saf·er, saf·est.

adverb

noun

Idioms for safe

Origin of safe

SYNONYMS FOR safe

OTHER WORDS FROM safe

Words nearby safe

Example sentences from the Web for safe

British Dictionary definitions for safe

adjective

adverb

noun

Derived forms of safe

Word Origin for safe

Idioms and Phrases with safe

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

safe

adjective, saf·er, saf·est.

adverb

noun

Idioms for safe

Origin of safe

SYNONYMS FOR safe

OTHER WORDS FROM safe

Words nearby safe

Words related to safe

Example sentences from the Web for safe

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for safe

adjective

adverb

noun

Derived forms of safe

Word Origin for safe

Idioms and Phrases with safe

British Dictionary definitions for safe