[also more safe; most safe] 1 not used before a noun a : not able or likely to be hurt or harmed in any way : not in danger ▪ I don't feel safe in this neighborhood. ▪ The kids were safe in the cabin. ▪ We need to make sure that the children are safe and sound. b : not able or likely to be lost, taken away, or given away ▪ “Is the money safe?” “Yes, it's in the bank.” ▪ Be sure to keep your wallet safe. [=keep it in a place where it can't be stolen] ▪ The election is next week, and the polls show that her lead is safe. [=her lead is large; she will not lose her lead] ▪ Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me. [=I will not tell anyone else your secret]
2 a : not involving or likely to involve danger, harm, or loss ▪ a world made safe from war ▪ Is it safe to walk here? ▪ He wished us a safe trip. ▪ We are all hoping for their safe return. [=hoping that they will return without being harmed] b : providing protection from danger, harm, or loss ▪ I found a safe place to take shelter from the storm. ▪ They live in a perfectly/relatively safe neighborhood. ▪ a safe harbor ▪ We watched the fireworks from a safe distance. ▪ You should keep your money in a safe [=secure] place. ▪ Bigger cars tend to be safer than smaller ones. ▪ the safest way to travel ▪ The shelter provides a safe haven for the homeless.
3 : not causing harm : not dangerous ▪ safe medicine ▪ a safe vaccine ▪ safe drinking water ▪ The book describes which mushrooms are safe to eat and which are not.
4 a : not likely to cause a bad result : not risky ▪ a safe investment/bet b : not likely to take risks : cautious or careful ▪ She's a very safe driver. ▪ It's probably not necessary to check the figures again, but (it's) better (to be) safe than sorry. [=it is better to be careful now so that problems do not occur later on] ▪ To be on the safe side, I checked the figures again. = To be safe, I checked the figures again. ▪ I decided to play it safe [=to be careful and avoid risk or danger] and leave early so that I would be sure to arrive on time.
5 : not likely to cause disagreement or argument ▪ That's a safe assumption. ▪ It's safe to assume that she isn't married. ▪ Politics is not a safe subject around him. He's always angry about something. ▪ I think it's safe to say that he won't be causing any further problems. ▪ She is a safe bet to win the tournament. [=she will probably win the tournament]
6 baseball : successful at getting to a base without being put out ▪ The runner was safe on a close play at first base.