adj

safe

SAYF

adj

Free from danger, harm, or risk.

"The children were safe inside before the storm hit."

"Is it safe to drink the tap water here?"

Reliable and unlikely to cause problems or be wrong.

"It's a safe bet that prices will rise again next year."

noun

A strong, lockable metal box or container used to store valuables securely.

"She kept the jewelry and important documents in a safe bolted to the floor."

How to Use Safe

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishProtected from danger or risk — or, for objects, a locked box for keeping things secure.

Common mistake

As slang, "safe" can also mean "cool" or "trustworthy" in some UK dialects — context makes the meaning clear.

Common pairings

safe and sound a safe distance play it safe crack a safe

safer comparative, more safe comparative, safed past tense, safes plural, safes singular, safest superlative, most safe superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

The children were _____ inside before the storm hit.

From Old French sauf, from Latin salvus ("whole, unharmed") — the same root that gives us "salvage" and "save."

guarded invulnerable OK out of harm's way protected safe and sound secure

unsafe dangerous hazardous

OK collect secure doomed reliable dangerous tight defend

Rafe unsafe

guarded invulnerable OK out of harm's way protected safe and sound secure unsafe dangerous hazardous collect doomed