safe
[adjective]
Synonyms:
- secure, impregnable, in safe hands, out of danger, out of harm's way, protected, safe and sound
- unharmed, all right, intact, O.K. or okay (informal), undamaged, unhurt, unscathed
- risk-free, certain, impregnable, secure, sound
[noun]
Synonyms:
- strongbox, coffer, deposit box, repository, safe-deposit box, vault

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Antonyms: unsafe, dangerous
Contrasted words: damaged, harmed, hurt, injured, insecure, undefended, unguarded, unprotected, vulnerable, threatened, hazardous, risky, perilous, precarious, harmful, injurious, unhealthy
Related Idioms: in (or with) a whole skin, out of harm's way, safe and sound, safe as a bank vault
Related Words: unhurt, uninjured, intact, guarding, protecting, safeguarding, sheltering, shielding, defended, guarded, protected, sheltered, shielded, unthreatened, impregnable, inviolable, invulnerable, unassailable, innocent, innocuous, inoffensive

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English Thesaurus: safe, OK/all right, unharmed, unscathed, in one piece, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. safe¹ S2 W2 /seɪf/ adjective (comparative safer, superlative safest)
[Word Family: noun: safe, safety; adverb: safely; adjective: safe ≠ unsafe]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: sauf, from Latin salvus 'safe, healthy']

1. NOT IN DANGER [not before noun] not in danger of being harmed, lost, or stolen Antonym : unsafe ⇒ safety:
She doesn’t feel safe in the house on her own.
safe from
The birds’ nests are high up, safe from predators.
Make sure you keep these documents safe.
be (as) safe as houses British English (=be completely safe)
Your money will be as safe as houses.

2. NOT HARMED OR LOST not harmed, lost, or stolen:
Your family are all safe.
safe and sound/well (=unharmed, especially after being in danger)
The missing children were found safe and sound.

3. NOT CAUSING HARM not likely to cause any physical injury or harm Antonym : dangerous:
Flying is one of the safest forms of travel.
Don’t go near the edge – it isn’t safe.
a safe working environment
it is safe (for somebody) to do something
Is it safe to swim here?
safe to use/drink/eat etc
The water is treated to make it safe to drink.
safe for
play areas that are safe for children
(at/from) a safe distance
We watched from a safe distance.
Drivers should keep a safe distance from the car in front.
safe driver
Women are safer drivers than men.

4. NO RISK not involving any risk and very likely to be successful:
a safe investment
a safe method of contraception
it’s safe to say/assume (that)
I think it’s safe to say that the future is looking pretty good.

5. safe place a place where something is not likely to be stolen or lost
keep/put something in a safe place
Keep your credit cards in a safe place.

6. safe journey/arrival/return etc a journey etc when someone or something is not harmed or lost:
His family celebrated his safe return home.
safe journey British English (=said to someone when they start a long journey)
Dad rang to wish me a safe journey.

7. SUBJECT a safe subject of conversation is not likely to upset anyone or make people argue:
I kept to safe subjects, like the weather.

8. to be on the safe side spoken to do something in order to be certain to avoid an unpleasant situation:
I’d take an umbrella, just to be on the safe side.

9. be in safe hands to be with someone who will look after you very well:
Everyone wants to feel that their children are in safe hands.

10. better (to be) safe than sorry spoken used to say that it is better to be careful, even if this takes time, effort etc, than take a risk that may have a bad result:
Set the alarm clock – better safe than sorry!

11. safe in the knowledge that ... completely certain that something is true or will happen:
She went out, safe in the knowledge that no one else was awake.

12. a safe pair of hands someone you can trust to do a difficult job without making mistakes

13. safe! British English spoken informal used by young people to show approval of something:
‘Alex is having a party.’ ‘Oh, safe!’

14. NO PROBLEM British English spoken informal used to say that something is good and that there is no problem:
‘How’s your new boss?’ ‘She’s safe.’
⇒ play it safe at play¹(9), ⇒ it’s a safe bet (that) at bet²(4), ⇒ safe seat at seat¹(2), ⇒ sb’s secret is safe (with somebody) at secret²(1)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. safe² noun [countable]
[Word Family: noun: safe, safety; adverb: safely; adjective: safe ≠ unsafe]
a strong metal box or cupboard with special locks where you keep money and valuable things

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

III. safe³ interjection British English informal
said by young people as a greeting

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

safe
adj.
VERBS be, feel, seem | become | remain, stay | play (it) Does good marketing mean playing safe (= avoiding risks) and staying traditional?
make sth, render sth The army experts made the bomb safe.
keep sth Keep your money safe by carrying it in an inside pocket.
consider sth, declare sth, deem sth The water was not considered safe to drink.
ADV. all, extremely, really, very Don't worry?he'll be all safe and snug in the barn.
absolutely, completely, perfectly, quite, totally a completely safe and secure environment for young children
not entirely The wood is never entirely safe for women on their own.
comparatively, fairly, pretty, reasonably, relatively | enough You should be safe enough, but don't go too far.
environmentally She claimed that nuclear power was the most environmentally safe form of energy.
PREP. from They were safe from attack.
with Your money will be safe with me.
PHRASES better safe than sorry, safe and sound They returned from their adventure safe and sound.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

safe
noun
ADJ. bank, hotel, office | wall
VERB + SAFE open | close, lock | break into, crack

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

safe
adjective
BAD: The police telephoned his parents to tell them that he was save.
GOOD: The police telephoned his parents to tell them that he was safe.

Usage Note:
Save /seIv/ is a verb: 'This new drug is likely to save hundreds of lives.' 'Thanks to the local fire brigade, all three children were saved.'
The adjective is safe /seIf/: 'Since the break-in, I never feel safe in the house.' 'You should keep your passport somewhere safe.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

safe not harmed or damaged:
The children are all safe.
OK/all right informal safe and not hurt:
I was glad to hear that you were OK.
unharmed not hurt:
The kidnappers released the young man unharmed.
unscathed /ʌnˈskeɪðd/ not hurt or damaged, after an accident, an attack, or a dangerous experience – used when you are surprised by this:
The baby escaped unscathed.
Miraculously, the old part of the city remained unscathed.
in one piece informal not harmed or damaged, especially after a journey or a dangerous experience:
I’m glad you’re home in one piece.
out of danger safe, after being in a dangerous situation:
As soon as they were out of danger, they stopped for a rest.
His doctors say he is out of danger.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

safe not in danger of being harmed, lost, or stolen. Also used about a place where someone or something is safe:
I don’t feel safe around here.
Keep your valuables in a safe place.
secure if something is secure, it is safe from thieves and criminals. Also used about a place where something is safe:
How do I know that my personal details are secure?
The money is in a very secure place.
well protected not likely to be damaged or harmed by something:
The equipment was well protected from the rain.
Always make sure that you are well protected from the sun.
out of harm’s way in a place where someone or something cannot be hurt or damaged:
She put the glass vases on the top shelf, out of harm’s way.
Make sure that he stays out of harm’s way.
OK/all right informal safe and not hurt:
I was glad to hear that you were OK.
unharmed not hurt:
The kidnappers released the young man unharmed.
unscathed /ʌnˈskeɪðd/ not hurt or damaged, after an accident, an attack, or a dangerous experience – used when you are surprised by this:
The baby escaped unscathed.
Miraculously, the old part of the city remained unscathed.
in one piece informal not harmed or damaged, especially after a journey or a dangerous experience:
I’m glad you’re home in one piece.
out of danger safe, after being in a dangerous situation:
As soon as they were out of danger, they stopped for a rest.
His doctors say he is out of danger.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

safe
seɪf
See: play safe

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲