Store vs. Save: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on September 26, 2023
"Store" refers to keeping or placing items in a designated space, while "save" refers to setting something aside or preserving it, often for future use or need.
Key Differences
The terms "store" and "save" are associated with keeping or reserving something but used in different contexts and manners. "Store" typically refers to the action of placing or keeping items, usually in a designated space or container. It implies accumulating goods, data, or other objects in an organized manner, ensuring they are available when needed. In contrast, "save" often denotes the action of preserving or setting aside something, such as money, resources, or data, for future use or emergency, emphasizing prevention from waste or loss.
In the retail context, a "store" is a place where goods are kept and sold to consumers, serving as a physical space where one can purchase items. On the other hand, "save" in a commercial context can imply conserving money by availing discounts or opting for economical options, focusing on the aspect of financial prudence and resource management. Here, "save" reflects an intention to avoid unnecessary expenditure or to accumulate financial resources for future needs or unforeseen circumstances.
In the realm of technology and computing, to "store" means to keep or maintain data in a memory location, database, or another storage medium. It involves arranging data systematically to be retrieved when needed. "Save," in a digital environment, refers to the action of preserving work or data by writing it to a storage device, ensuring its availability for future access or preventing loss due to system failure. Here, "save" is crucial for maintaining the integrity and availability of work or information.
In everyday language, to "store" can mean keeping items like food, clothes, or tools in a particular place or manner to maintain their condition or availability. In contrast, "save" can denote rescuing or preventing someone or something from harm or undesirable outcomes. While "store" emphasizes placement and arrangement, "save" accentuates preservation, protection, and rescue from potential loss or damage.
Comparison Chart
Purpose
To keep or place items in a designated space.
To set something aside or preserve it.
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Context
Retail, Technology, General Usage.
Finance, Technology, General Usage.
Focus
Accumulation and arrangement.
Preservation and prevention from loss.
Nature
Organizational and spatial.
Protective and conservative.
Usage in a Sentence
She went to the store to buy groceries.
He tries to save money for his future needs.
Store and Save Definitions
Store
To keep or accumulate for future use.
We store the winter clothes in the attic during the summer.
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Save
To rescue from danger or possible harm, injury, or loss.
The lifeguard was able to save the drowning child.
Store
To place or file data in a specific location or memory.
Computers store data on hard drives or SSDs.
Save
To avoid unnecessary waste or expense; to economize.
Using energy-efficient appliances can help you save on electricity bills.
Store
A place where merchandise is offered for sale; a shop.
Save
To rescue from harm, danger, or loss
The lifeguard saved the struggling swimmer.
Store
A stock or supply reserved for future use
A squirrel's store of acorns.
Save
To prevent from dying
The doctors saved the patient.
Store
Stores Supplies, especially of food, clothing, or arms.
Save
To set free from the consequences of sin; redeem
Prayed to save his soul.
Store
A place where commodities are kept; a warehouse or storehouse.
Save
To keep in a safe or healthy condition
God save King Richard!.
Store
A great quantity or number; an abundance.
Save
To hold back for future use
Saved his best song for the encore.
Store
To reserve or put away for future use.
Save
To avoid spending (money) so as to keep or accumulate it.
Store
To fill, supply, or stock.
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.
Store
To deposit or receive in a storehouse or warehouse for safekeeping.
Save
To prevent the waste or loss of; conserve
Bought an efficient device that saves electricity.
Store
(Computers) To copy (data) into memory or onto a storage device, such as a hard disk.
Save
To treat with care by avoiding fatigue, wear, or damage; spare
Wore sunglasses to save his eyesight.
Store
A place where items may be accumulated or routinely kept.
This building used to be a store for old tires.
Save
To make unnecessary; obviate
By carrying two bags you can save an extra trip.
Store
A supply held in storage.
Save
To spare (someone) from having to do something.
Store
(mainly North American) A place where items may be purchased; a shop.
I need to get some milk from the grocery store.
Save
(Sports) To prevent (a goal) from being scored by blocking a shot. Used of a goalie.
Store
Memory.
The main store of 1000 36-bit words seemed large at the time.
Save
To prevent an opponent from scoring (a point).
Store
A great quantity or number; abundance.
Save
To preserve a victory in (a game).
Store
A head of store cattle (feeder cattle to be sold to others for finishing); a store cattle beast.
Save
(Baseball) To preserve (another pitcher's win) by protecting one's team's lead during a stint of relief pitching.
Store
(transitive) To keep (something) while not in use, generally in a place meant for that purpose.
I'll store these books in the attic.
Save
(Computers) To copy (a file) from a computer's main memory to a disk or other storage medium.
Store
Contain.
The cabinets store all the food the mice would like.
Save
To avoid waste or expense; economize.
Store
Have the capacity and capability to contain.
They sell boxes that store 24 mason jars.
Save
To accumulate money
Saving for a vacation.
Store
To write (something) into memory or registers.
This operation stores the result on the stack.
Save
To preserve a person or thing from harm or loss.
Store
That which is accumulated, or massed together; a source from which supplies may be drawn; hence, an abundance; a great quantity, or a great number.
The ships are fraught with store of victuals.
With store of ladies, whose bright eyesRain influence, and give the prize.
Save
(Sports) An act that prevents a ball or puck from entering a goal.
Store
A place of deposit for goods, esp. for large quantities; a storehouse; a warehouse; a magazine.
Save
(Baseball) A preservation by a relief pitcher of another pitcher's win.
Store
Any place where goods are sold, whether by wholesale or retail; a shop.
Save
With the exception of; except
"No man enjoys self-reproach save a masochist" (Philip Wylie).
Store
Articles, especially of food, accumulated for some specific object; supplies, as of provisions, arms, ammunition, and the like; as, the stores of an army, of a ship, of a family.
His swine, his horse, his stoor, and his poultry.
In his needy shop a tortoise hung,An alligator stuffed, and other skinsOf ill-shaped fishes; and about his shelvesA beggarly account of empty boxes.
Sulphurous and nitrous foam, . . . Concocted and adjusted, they reducedTo blackest grain, and into store conveyed.
Save
Were it not; except
The house would be finished by now, save that we had difficulty contracting a roofer.
Store
Accumulated; hoarded.
Save
Unless.
Store
To collect as a reserved supply; to accumulate; to lay away.
Dora stored what little she could save.
Save
(transitive) To prevent harm or difficulty.
Store
To furnish; to supply; to replenish; esp., to stock or furnish against a future time.
Her mind with thousand virtues stored.
Wise Plato said the world with men was stored.
Having stored a pond of four acres with carps, tench, and other fish.
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.
Store
To deposit in a store, warehouse, or other building, for preservation; to warehouse; as, to store goods.
Save
To keep (something) safe; to safeguard.
Store
A mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services;
He bought it at a shop on Cape Cod
Save
To spare (somebody) from effort, or from something undesirable.
Store
A supply of something available for future use;
He brought back a large store of Cuban cigars
Save
(Christianity) To redeem or protect someone from eternal damnation.
Jesus Christ came to save sinners.
Store
An electronic memory device;
A memory and the CPU form the central part of a computer to which peripherals are attached
Save
(sports) To catch or deflect (a shot at goal).
Store
A depository for goods;
Storehouses were built close to the docks
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.
Store
Keep or lay aside for future use;
Store grain for the winter
The bear stores fat for the period of hibernation when he doesn't eat
Save
To put aside, to avoid.
Store
Find a place for and put away for storage;
Where should we stow the vegetables?
I couldn't store all the books in the attic so I sold some
Save
(transitive) To store for future use.
Let's save the packaging in case we need to send the product back.
Store
A retail establishment selling items to the public.
There's a convenience store at the corner of the street.
Save
(transitive) To conserve or prevent the wasting of.
Save electricity by turning off the lights when you leave the room.
Store
A supply or stock of something held or hidden for future use.
We have a store of canned food in the basement.
Save
(transitive) To obviate or make unnecessary.
Store
To deposit or receive in a warehouse or other place for preservation.
Farmers store grain in silos.
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.
Save
(intransitive) To economize or avoid waste.
Save
To accumulate money or valuables.
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.
Save
An instance of preventing (further) harm or difficulty.
Save
In various sports, a block that prevents an opponent from scoring.
The goaltender made a great save.
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.
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.
Save
(informal) An action that brings one back out of an awkward situation.
Nice save.
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.
Save
(RPG) A saving throw.
Save
Except; with the exception of.
Save
Unless; except
Save
The herb sage, or salvia.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
Save
To hold possession or use of; to escape loss of.
Just saving the tide, and putting in a stock of merit.
Save
To avoid unnecessary expense or expenditure; to prevent waste; to be economical.
Brass ordnance saveth in the quantity of the material.
Save
Except; excepting; not including; leaving out; deducting; reserving; saving.
Five times received I forty stripes save one.
Save
Except; unless.
Save
(sports) the act of preventing the opposition from scoring;
The goalie made a brilliant save
The relief pitcher got credit for a save
Save
Save from ruin, destruction, or harm
Save
To keep up and reserve for personal or special use;
She saved the old family photographs in a drawer
Save
Bring into safety;
We pulled through most of the victims of the bomb attack
Save
Spend less; buy at a reduced price
Save
Feather one's nest; have a nest egg;
He saves half his salary
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
Save
Save from sins
Save
Refrain from harming
Save
Spend sparingly, avoid the waste of;
This move will save money
The less fortunate will have to economize now
Save
Retain rights to;
Keep my job for me while I give birth
Keep my seat, please
Keep open the possibility of a merger
Save
To preserve data by storing it in a computer or other storage medium.
Remember to save your work regularly to avoid losing data.
Save
To set aside, accumulate, or invest money for future use.
It's important to save money for emergencies.
Save
To keep intact or unaltered; to preserve.
The conservationists work to save endangered species.
FAQs
Can "save" imply prevention from harm or danger?
Yes, "save" can mean to rescue or prevent from harm, injury, or loss.
Can data be stored in the cloud?
Yes, data can be stored in cloud services, allowing access from various devices.
Can the word "store" refer to both a verb and a noun?
Yes, "store" can be used as both a verb meaning to keep or accumulate, and a noun referring to a retail establishment.
Is "store" primarily used in a retail context?
While "store" is commonly used in a retail context, it is also widely used to refer to keeping or placing items in general.
Can "save" refer to conservation of resources?
Yes, "save" can mean to conserve resources like water, energy, or materials, preventing waste.
Can we store energy?
Yes, energy can be stored in various forms, like batteries or potential energy.
Does "save" always refer to financial contexts?
No, "save" can refer to preserving, rescuing, avoiding waste, and storing data, not just financial contexts.
Can you save a life?
Yes, to save a life refers to rescuing someone from harm or danger, preventing death.
Are storage facilities places where items are stored?
Yes, storage facilities are specialized spaces designed for storing items, usually for a fee.
Is it essential to save regularly in computing work?
Yes, regular saving in computing work is crucial to prevent loss of data due to unexpected issues.
Do stores only sell goods?
Primarily, but some stores may also offer services, like repairs or customizations.
Can you store information in your brain?
Yes, the brain stores information in the form of memories and learned knowledge.
Is saving an act of protection?
Yes, saving often involves protecting or preserving something from loss, harm, or waste.
Does saving imply a future-oriented perspective?
Generally, yes. Saving typically involves setting resources aside for future use or needs.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
