reserve

²reserve

noun, often attributive

Definition of RESERVE

1

: something reserved or set aside for a particular purpose, use, or reason: as a (1) : a military force withheld from action for later decisive use —usually used in plural (2) : forces not in the field but available (3) : the military forces of a country not part of the regular services; also : reservist b : a tract (as of public land) set apart : reservation

2

: something stored or kept available for future use or need : stock

3

: an act of reserving : qualification

4

a : restraint, closeness, or caution in one's words and actions b : forbearance from making a full explanation, complete disclosure, or free expression of one's mind

5

archaic : secret

6

a : money or its equivalent kept in hand or set apart usually to meet liabilities b : the liquid resources of a nation for meeting international payments

7

: substitute

8

: reserve price

9

: a wine made from select grapes, bottled on the maker's premises, and aged differently from the maker's other wines of the same vintage

— in reserve

: held back for future or special use

Examples of RESERVE

1. He had to call upon his inner reserves of strength to keep going.
2. <the salesclerk showed great reserve in dealing with the unreasonable demands of the angry customer>

First Known Use of RESERVE

1648

Related to RESERVE

Synonyms: continence, discipline, discretion, inhibition, refrainment, repression, constraint, restraint, self-command, self-control, self-restraint, suppression

Antonyms: disinhibition, incontinence, unconstraint

Related Words: command, control, mastery, possession; self-censorship, self-containment, self-denial, self-discipline, self-government, self-mastery, will, willpower; composure, self-poise, self-possession; aloofness, detachedness, distance; bashfulness, modesty, shyness; reticence, silence, taciturnity

Near Antonyms: self-abandonment, uninhibitedness; unrestrainedness; gratification, indulgence, overindulgence, self-indulgence; bluntness, candor, frankness; immoderacy, intemperance

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