Definition

1. Verb:
   • To accumulate money over time by setting it aside, typically for a specific future purpose or purchase. It implies a deliberate and often gradual process of reserving funds rather than spending them immediately.

Usage

• The core meaning is to collect and keep money for later use. It often suggests a goal, such as buying something expensive or creating a financial safety net.
• It is a separable phrasal verb (e.g., "save money up" or "save up money").
• Commonly used in informal and everyday contexts related to personal finance.

Examples

• Verb:
  • I need to save up for a new car. (I need to accumulate money to buy a new car.)
  • She saved up her allowance to buy a concert ticket. (She collected her allowance money over time for the ticket.)
  • They are saving up to go on a dream vacation. (They are putting money aside for a future trip.)

Advanced Usage

• "to save up for a rainy day": To save money for future times of need or emergency.
  • It's wise to save up for a rainy day.
• The process can be emphasized:

Variants and Related Words

• Save (verb): A broader term meaning to keep money or resources for future use, or to rescue. "Save up" is a more specific form of "save" focusing on the accumulation process.
• Savings (noun): The money that has been saved up.
  • All her savings were in the bank.
• Saver (noun): A person who saves money.

Synonyms

• Put aside: To reserve something, especially money, for later.
• Set aside: Similar to "put aside"; to keep something for a particular purpose.
• Accumulate: To gather or build up a quantity of something over time.
• Squirrel away (idiomatic): To save money in a secretive or careful way.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Save on: To reduce expenditure or cost.
  • You can save on electricity by turning off lights.
• Save for: To keep or reserve something for a particular person, time, or purpose. (Note: This can overlap with "save up for," but "save for" can be used more broadly, not just for money.)
  • Please save that piece of cake for me.

Related Idioms

• Penny-pincher (noun): A person who is extremely careful with money and likes to save up.
  • My grandfather was a real penny-pincher.
• To scrape together/save up every penny: To save money with great difficulty or effort.
  • They scraped together every penny to buy their first home.

Verb

1. accumulate money for future use
   • He saves half his salary