economizar

Senses

1. 1.

   to save (money)

   to set aside money rather than spending it; to reduce expenses

2. 2.

   to save, to conserve

   to use less of something (time, energy, resources)

3. 3.

   to spare, to save

   to avoid wasting or using unnecessarily

Examples

• "Estou tentando economizar para comprar um carro novo."

  I'm trying to save (money) to buy a new car.

• "Precisamos economizar água durante a seca."

  We need to conserve water during the drought.

• "Ele economizou tempo pegando o atalho."

  He saved time by taking the shortcut.

Usage

Very common verb in everyday Brazilian Portuguese. Often used with preposition "em" (economizar em algo = to save on something). Common collocations: economizar dinheiro, economizar tempo, economizar energia. Takes direct object or can be used intransitively.