reserve

verb re·serve \ ri-ˈzərv \

Updated on: 17 Apr 2018

Definition of reserve

reserved; reserving

transitive verb

1 a : to hold in reserve : keep back

reserve grain for seed

b : to set aside (part of the consecrated elements) at the Eucharist for future use

c : to retain or hold over to a future time or place : defer

reserve one's judgment on a plan

d : to make legal reservation of

2 : to set or have set aside or apart

reserve a hotel room

—

reservable

play \ri-ˈzər-və-bəl\ adjective

See reserve defined for English-language learners

See reserve defined for kids

Examples of reserve in a Sentence

We reserved a hotel room.
This table is reserved for someone else.
The seats are reserved under my name.
We will reserve this wine for a special occasion.
She usually reserved her best dishes for very important dinners.

Recent Examples of reserve from the Web

According to the school, students are encouraged to sign up on the school’s website at www.guerinprep.org to reserve their spot in one of the sessions.

— pioneer press, chicagotribune.com, "Escape room challenge will be part of Guerin College Prep's open house," 13 Apr. 2018
Most breeders used to reserve all of their puppies and younger dogs for pet-store brokers and consumers.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "Dog rescuers, flush with donations, buy animals from the breeders they scorn," 12 Apr. 2018
To reserve your free spot at this event, click here.

— alex stuckey, Houston Chronicle, "Leader of Europe's space program set to speak in Houston," 12 Apr. 2018
Those interested in getting a booth need to reserve their space by Monday, April 30.

— elizabeth marie himchak, Rancho Bernardo, "RB Alive! vendors and teen volunteers needed," 11 Apr. 2018
Most breeders used to reserve all of their puppies and younger dogs for pet-store brokers and consumers.

— author: kim kavin, Anchorage Daily News, "Dog rescuers, flush with donations, buy animals from the breeders they scorn," 11 Apr. 2018
In legal filings, the charter association stated that L.A. Unified had pledged to reserve $450 million from a 2008 bond measure for charters.

— howard blume, latimes.com, "Charter school group drops two lawsuits against L.A. Unified," 9 Apr. 2018
To reserve, call (858) 487-8041 and mail payment to: Trudy Holleb, 16925 Hierba Drive, #243, San Diego, CA 92128.

— linda mcintosh, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Hand-to-Hand gives 39K in local grants," 9 Apr. 2018
For one, Jump Bike is already integrated into the ride-hail service, thanks to a two month-old pilot that allows San Francisco Uber customers to reserve electric bicycles from inside the Uber app.

— aarian marshall, WIRED, "Uber Acquires the Bike-Share Company Jump," 9 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reserve.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of reserve

Middle English, from Anglo-French reserver, from Latin reservare, literally, to keep back, from re- + servare to keep — more at conserve

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

reserve Synonyms

Phrases

hang on to, hold on to;

Synonym Discussion of reserve

keep, retain, detain, withhold, reserve mean to hold in one's possession or under one's control. keep may suggest a holding securely in one's possession, custody, or control.

- keep this while I'm gone

retain implies continued keeping, especially against threatened seizure or forced loss.

- managed to retain their dignity even in poverty

detain suggests a delay in letting go.

- detained them for questioning

withhold implies restraint in letting go or a refusal to let go.

- withheld information from the authorities

reserve suggests a keeping in store for future use.

- reserve some of your energy for the last mile

reserve

noun, often attributive

Definition of reserve

1 : something reserved or set aside for a particular purpose, use, or reason: such 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

See reserve defined for English-language learners

Examples of reserve in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of reserve from the Web

The starting group of Hassan Whiteside, James Johnson, Josh Richardson, Tyler Johnson and Goran Dragic, as well as reserves Kelly Olynyk, Wayne Ellington, Justise Winslow and Dwyane Wade.

— ira winderman, Sun-Sentinel.com, "ASK IRA: What will the Heat's defensive approach be against Ben Simmons?," 14 Apr. 2018
Injuries are why starters have backups, though, so with d'Arnaud down, the Mets turned to Kevin Plawecki, the team's 27-year-old reserve backstop, who was more or less serviceable both behind and at the plate last season when called upon.

— jon tayler, SI.com, "The Mets Are Quite Literally Running Out of Healthy Catchers," 13 Apr. 2018
Pallotti reserves included juniors Emma Bastian (OF) and Jacqueline Smith (2B/OF), sophomores TyNiah Bates (3B), Kaylen Hurst (OF) and RyLee Roberts (C/3B) and freshman Lexington Kurdyla (2B).

— craig clary, Laurel Leader, "Pallotti softball squad growing as a unit under new head coach," 11 Apr. 2018
After starting with the Sheriff's Office as a reserve deputy in 1997, Lee began working full time with the department in 2010.

— kim chatelain, NOLA.com, "Scott Lee to head up St. Tammany sheriff's public info team," 11 Apr. 2018
By Elaina Zachos PUBLISHED April 11, 2018 In 2016, four lion cubs at South Africa’s Sabi Sands, a private game reserve bordering Kruger National Park, mysteriously fell ill.

— elaina zachos, National Geographic, "Exclusive: Fatal Disease Likely Found in Lion Cubs for First Time," 11 Apr. 2018
In February, Uber added an option in its app that lets users reserve and rent Jump bikes in San Francisco.

— kirsten korosec, Fortune, "Uber Adds Car Rentals, Bikes, Buses, and Trains to App," 11 Apr. 2018
The company has incurred losses — paid plus reserves — of $845 million.

— OrlandoSentinel.com, "Florida's Hurricane Irma insurance losses tallied at $7 billion-plus," 11 Apr. 2018
Janikowski didn't play in 2017 after he was placed on injured reserve with a back injury.

— geoffrey c. arnold, OregonLive.com, "Seattle Seahawks take a look at Sebastian Janikowski: Report," 11 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of reserve

1648

reserve Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

disinhibition, incontinence, unconstraint;

Near Antonyms

self-abandonment, uninhibitedness;

unrestrainedness;

gratification, indulgence, overindulgence, self-indulgence;

bluntness, candor, frankness;

immoderacy, intemperance;

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;

RESERVE Defined for English Language Learners

reserve

verb

Definition of reserve for English Language Learners

: to make arrangements so that you will be able to use or have (something, such as a room, table, or seat) at a later time
: to keep (something) for a special or future use
: to choose to do (something) at a later time

reserve

noun

Definition of reserve for English Language Learners

: a supply of something that is stored so that it can be used at a later time
: a military force that is additional to the regular forces and that is available if it is needed
: an area of land where animals and plants are given special protection

RESERVE Defined for Kids

reserve

verb re·serve \ ri-ˈzərv \

Definition of reserve for Students

reserved; reserving

1 : to arrange to have set aside and held for someone's use

I called to reserve a hotel room.

2 : to keep in store for special use

She believed that Sundays should be reserved for family activities.
—Carl Hiaasen, Hoot

3 : to keep from using until a future time

We need to reserve our strength.

4 : to hold over to a future time or place

Reserve judgment until you know the facts.

reserve

noun

Definition of reserve for Students

1 reserves plural : military forces held back or available for later use

2 : an area of land set apart

a nature reserve

3 : caution in words and behavior

4 : something stored for future use

oil reserves

5 : an act of setting something aside for future use

Medical Dictionary

reserve

noun re·serve \ ri-ˈzərv \

medical Definition of reserve

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

oxygen reserve

— see cardiac reserve

2 : the capacity of a solution to neutralize alkali or acid when its reaction is shifted from one hydrogen-ion concentration to another; especially : the capacity of blood or bacteriological media to react with acid or alkali within predetermined and usually physiological limits of hydrogen-ion concentration — compare buffer, buffer solution

reserve

adjective

medical Definition of reserve

: constituting or having the form or function of a reserve

a reserve supply

reserve strength

Law Dictionary

reserve

transitive verb re·serve

legal Definition of reserve

reserved; reserving

: to keep back or set apart: as

a : to keep (a right, power, or interest) especially by express declaration

all rights reserved

— compare waive

b : to defer a determination of (a question of law)

the justices reserved the question because it was not an issue in the case

reserve

noun

legal Definition of reserve

1 : something stored or kept available for future use

an energy company with various unproven oil reserves

2 : an act of reserving

3 : money kept in a separate account to meet future liabilities

— legal reserve

: the minimum amount as determined by government standards of the deposits held by a bank or of the assets of a life insurance company required by law to be kept as reserves

— loss reserve

1 : a reserve allocated by a bank for the purpose of absorbing losses

a loan loss reserve

2 : an insurance company's reserve representing the discounted value of future payments to be made on losses which may have already occurred

— policy reserve

: an insurance company's reserve representing the difference in value between the net premiums and assumed claims for a given year in life insurance

— unearned premium reserve

: a reserve of funds which represents premiums paid to an insurance company but not yet applied to policy coverage and from which a policyholder is paid a refund in the event of cancellation prior to the period for which premiums have been paid

4 : reserve price

— with reserve

: with a reserve price and with a seller reserving the right to reject all bids

Note: A sale at auction is with reserve if there is no explicit indication to the contrary.

— without reserve

: without a reserve price and with the seller bound to accept the highest bid