reserve

reserve

noun

Definition of RESERVE

1

the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others <the salesclerk showed great reserve in dealing with the unreasonable demands of the angry customer>

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

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

Antonyms disinhibition, incontinence, unconstraint

2

a collection of things kept available for future use or need <our fuel reserves are low>

Synonyms cache, deposit, hoard, reserve

Related Words budget, fund, nest egg; armory, arsenal, bank, pool, reservoir, stock, stockpile, supply; accumulation, assemblage, collection, gathering

3

a person or thing that takes the place of another <when the first brigade fell back in retreat, the commander sent out the reserves to try to hold the line of battle>

Synonyms backup, cover, designated hitter, fill-in, locum tenens, pinch hitter, relief, replacement, reserve, stand-in, sub

Related Words alternate, understudy; apology, makeshift, stopgap; agent, assignee, attorney, commissary, delegate, deputy, envoy, factor, procurator, proxy, rep, representative, surrogate; assistant, reliever, second; successor, superseder

4

an interchangeable part or piece of equipment that is kept on hand for replacement of an original <don't throw that extra bike chain away, as I want to keep it as a reserve in case the current one breaks>

Synonyms extra, reserve

Related Words backup, substitute; stock; carbon copy, clone, copy, double, dummy, dupe, duplicate, replacement, replica, replication, reproduction

Near Antonyms archetype, original, prototype