Definition of 'safe'

Word Frequency

safe

(seɪf )

Word forms: comparative safer , superlative safest , plural safes

1. adjective

Something that is safe does not cause physical harm or danger.

Officials arrived to assess whether it is safe to bring emergency food supplies into the city.

Most foods that we eat are safe for birds.

...a safe and reliable birth control option.

...a programme to make nuclear reactors safer.

2. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE]

If a person or thing is safe from something, they cannot be harmed or damaged by it.

In the future people can go to a football match knowing that they are safe from hooliganism. [+ from]

There are lots of gadgets you can install to make your home safer.

3. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE]

If you are safe, you have not been harmed, or you are not in danger of being harmed.

Where is Sophy? Is she safe?

A baby boy is safe after rescue workers pulled him from a 12-foot-deep construction hole.

Synonyms: all right, fine, intact, unscathed More Synonyms of safe

safely adverb [ADVERB with verb]

All 140 guests were brought out of the building safely by firefighters.

4. adjective

A safe place is one where it is unlikely that any harm, damage, or unpleasant things will happen to the people or things that are there.

Many refugees have fled to safer areas.

The elimination of all nuclear weapons would make the world a safer place.

We shall take the treasure away to a safe place.

safely adverb [ADVERB after verb]

The banker keeps the money tucked safely under his bed.

5. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]

If people or things have a safe journey, they reach their destination without harm, damage, or unpleasant things happening to them.

'I'm heading back home for the weekend.'—'Have a safe journey.'

...the U.N. plan to deploy 500 troops to ensure the safe delivery of food and other supplies.

safely adverb [ADVERB with verb, ADV adv]

The space shuttle returned safely today from a 10-day mission.

Once Mrs Armsby was safely home, she called the police again.

6. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]

If you are at a safe distance from something or someone, you are far enough away from them to avoid any danger, harm, or unpleasant effects.

I shall conceal myself at a safe distance from the battlefield.

He thinks he can find a way to vaccinate the elephants from a safe distance.

Synonyms: cautious, prudent, sure, conservative More Synonyms of safe

7. adjective [usually verb-link ADJECTIVE]

If something you have or expect to obtain is safe, you cannot lose it or be prevented from having it.

We as consumers need to feel confident that our jobs are safe before we will spend spare cash.

Is the National Health Service safe with the Conservative party?

Rovers made the game safe with a spectacular second goal in the 84th minute.

Synonyms: risk-free, sound, secure, certain More Synonyms of safe

8. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]

A safe course of action is one in which there is very little risk of loss or failure.

Electricity shares are still a safe investment.

Baldwin called the 1935 election a year early to get the country behind rearmament - not the politically safe option.

safely adverb

We reveal only as much information as we can safely risk at a given time.

9. adjective

If you disapprove of something because you think it is not very exciting or original, you can describe it as safe.

[disapproval]

...frustrated artists who became lawyers at an early age because it seemed a safe option.

Rock'n'roll has become so commercialised and safe since punk.

Synonyms: boring, routine, dull, old More Synonyms of safe

10. adjective

If it is safe to say or assume something, you can say it with very little risk of being wrong.

It is safe to say that some students make no effort to do quality work in school.

The only safe assumption is that the world's financial markets will have to find solutions themselves.

safely adverb [ADVERB before verb]

If I go to a grocer I know and trust, I can safely assume the eggs will be fresh.

I think you can safely say she will not be appearing in another of my films.

11. graded adjective [usually verb-link ADJECTIVE, usu ADJ with n]

If you say to someone that their secret is safe with you, you are promising not to tell it to anyone.

Don't worry, Mr Palin, your secret is safe with me.

12. countable noun

A safe is a strong metal cupboard with special locks, in which you keep money, jewellery, or other valuable things.

The files are now in a safe to which only he has the key.

Synonyms: strongbox, vault, coffer, repository More Synonyms of safe

13. See also safely

14.

See in safe hands / safe in someone's hands

15.

See safe as houses

16.

See make somewhere safe for something

17.

See to play safe

18.

See to be on the safe side

19.

See it's better to be safe than sorry

20.

See safe and sound

21. a safe pair of hands

22. safe in the knowledge

More Synonyms of safe

Video: pronunciation of
safe

safe in British English

(seɪf )

adjective

affording security or protection from harm

a safe place

2. (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

7. British informal

excellent

8. See on the safe side

adverb

in a safe condition

the children are safe in bed now

10. See play safe

noun

11.

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

12.

a small ventilated cupboard-like container for storing food

13. US and Canadian a slang word for condom

Derived forms

safely (ˈsafely)

adverb

safeness (ˈsafeness)

noun

Word origin

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

Word Frequency

safe in American English

(seɪf )

adjectiveWord forms: ˈsafer or ˈsafest

free from damage, danger, or injury; secure

having escaped danger or injury; unharmed

giving protection

involving no risk

trustworthy

no longer dangerous; unable to cause trouble or damage

safe in jail

taking no risks; prudent; cautious

said of persons

5. US, Baseball

having reached a base without being put out

noun

a container or box, capable of being locked and usually of metal, in which to store valuables

any compartment, box, etc. for storing food, etc.

a meat safe

8. Slang

a condom

SYNONYMY NOTE: safe implies freedom from damage, danger, or injury or from the risk of damage, etc. [is it safe to leave?]; secure, often interchangeable with , safe, is now usually applied to something about which there is no need to feel apprehension [he is secure in his job]

OPPOSITES: dangerous, precarious

Derived forms

safely (ˈsafely)

adverb

safeness (ˈsafeness)

noun

Word origin

ME sauf < OFr < L salvus, akin to salus, health, sound condition < IE base *solo-, whole, well-preserved > Gr holos, whole, Sans sarva, unharmed, whole

Word Frequency

safe in American English

(seif) (adjective safer, safest)

adjective

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

7. Baseball

reaching base without being put out

safe on the throw to first base

making it possible to reach a base

a safe slide

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

10.

a pan for catching leakage

b. template (sense 8)

11. slang

a condom

Derived forms

safely

adverb

safeness

noun

Word origin

[1250–1300; (adj.) ME sauf, saf ‹ AF saf, OF sauf ‹ L salvus intact, whole; (n.) late ME save, orig. deriv. of save1, assimilated to the adj.; cf. salvation]

Word Frequency

safe in Hospitality

(seɪf)

Word forms: (regular plural) safes

noun

(Hospitality (hotel): Hotel room, bedroom)

A safe is a strong metal cabinet with special locks, in which you keep money, jewelry, or other valuable things.

Always put your passport in the hotel safe.

The reception is open 24 hours and there is a safe available for guests' valuables.

The guests' valuables are in a safe to which only the manager has the key.

Examples of 'safe' in a sentence
safe

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

What is this country coming to when residents are not safe from harm in care homes?The site is very secure and safe.Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure.The man demanded that he fill a holdall with money from the safe before fleeing.We feel safer now and hope it will continue. Get them to switch to something rather safer.We all just want to be safe.We wanted to make employees feel safe to talk.We urge people to keep their valuables out of sight and preferably locked in a safe.You have to know where the dangerous spots are and play safe.