reserve

verb

re·serve | \ ri-ˈzərv

reserved; reserving

Definition of reserve

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : 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

reserve

noun, often attributive

Definition of reserve (Entry 2 of 2)

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

4a : 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

6a : 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

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Choose the Right Synonym for reserve

Verb

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

Examples of reserve in a Sentence

Verb

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.

Noun

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 on the Web: Verb

The rest of the prisoners’ graves are marked with the simple white headstones normally reserved for dead service members in national cemeteries. — Matthew Farwell, The New Republic, "America’s Once and Future Concentration Camp," 3 July 2019 They were strictly reserved for swim lessons and our mothers’ closets, while most of us jumped at any chance to wear low-rise string bikinis instead. — Anny Choi, Vogue, "Why a One-Piece Swimsuit and Full Skirt (Or Short!) Is the Perfect Summer Pair," 3 July 2019 And even if this isn't your first rodeo, some things have changed at the 2019 outdoor music fest, like a new cashless wristband, the addition of reserved parking and more Kentucky craft beer options. — Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, "Everything you need to know about the 2019 Forecastle Festival in Louisville," 3 July 2019 Chief Hopper Portrayed by David Harbour and known for reserving mornings for coffee and contemplation, this high-school friend of Joyce is on the case as Hawkins' top cop. — David Lindquist, Indianapolis Star, "The story so far: Catch up with 10 Hawkins, Indiana, favorites before 'Stranger Things 3'," 2 July 2019 While managers at Flipside said Thursday to Saturday are the park's busiest days, people flock to the Aqua Park daily to enjoy the water toys that are typically reserved for beaches or lakes. — Ivana Hrynkiw | Ihrynkiw@al.com, al.com, "Check out new water inflatables at Oak Mountain State Park," 1 July 2019 Apple, however, intended for that approach to be reserved for cases where functionality is simply not available on a certain device but is desired on another. — Samuel Axon, Ars Technica, "Catalyst deep dive: The future of Mac software according to Apple and devs," 1 July 2019 Newsom and legislative leaders agreed to spend $143.3 million to add 12,400 new slots in child-care centers across the state, most of which will be reserved for children from low-income families. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed his first budget. Here’s where the $215 billion will go," 27 June 2019 To reserve tickets or find more information on attending the 10 open practices, visit Dolphins.com/TrainingCamp. — Safid Deen, sun-sentinel.com, "Miami Dolphins fans: This is when you can attend team practices before the 2019 season," 27 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The midfielder fell out of favour with the French champions and failed to make a single appearance during the second half of the 2018/19 season, being relegated to the reserves by PSG boss Thomas Tuchel. — SI.com, "Adrien Rabiot Arrives at Juventus Ahead of Free Transfer From Paris Saint-Germain," 30 June 2019 The report says in those years, the reserve supports 280 jobs and injects $1 million into state and local tax coffers. — USA TODAY, "Summer snow, yellow jacket super nests, laundered cat: News from around our 50 states," 26 June 2019 At least four drones have crashed on the reserve during her tenure, said Ms. Sprunger, who is skeptical of the Air Force’s claims that the expansion would not harm the refuge. — New York Times, "Bombing Range or Nature Preserve? A Battle for Control of the Nevada Desert," 25 June 2019 Foote served a year with the Marines in Quantico, Va., before joining the reserves. — Bob Goldsborough, chicagotribune.com, "Edward Foote, master litigator at Winston & Strawn, dies at 90," 24 June 2019 The helium enrichment plant atop the reserve is small. — Laura Garcia, ExpressNews.com, "Global helium market faces more uncertainty as government prepares to sell its stockpile stored in Texas," 21 June 2019 Like theirs, it is motivated by the prospect of mineral riches: the large oil reserves believed to lie under the Arctic Ocean, which will become more accessible as the polar ice retreats. — Richard Kemeny, Science | AAAS, "As countries battle for control of North Pole, science is the ultimate winner," 20 June 2019 The virtual coins will be bought with real money, which will top up the reserve backing the currency. — The Economist, "Facebook wants to create a worldwide digital currency," 20 June 2019 Monitoring of the vast reserve with aerial surveys and foot patrols remains incomplete and relies on sampling, however. — Fox News, "Zero elephants poached in a year in top Africa wildlife park," 15 June 2019

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.

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Statistics for reserve

Last Updated

8 Jul 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for reserve

The first known use of reserve was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for reserve

reserve

verb

English Language Learners Definition of reserve

(Entry 1 of 2)

: 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

English Language Learners Definition of reserve (Entry 2 of 2)

: 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

See the full definition for reserve in the English Language Learners Dictionary

reserve

verb

re·serve | \ ri-ˈzərv

reserved; reserving

Kids Definition of reserve

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

Kids Definition of reserve (Entry 2 of 2)

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

reserve

noun

re·serve | \ ri-ˈzərv

Medical Definition of reserve

(Entry 1 of 2)

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 (Entry 2 of 2)

: constituting or having the form or function of a reserve a reserve supply reserve strength

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reserve

transitive verb

re·serve

reserved; reserving

Legal Definition of reserve

(Entry 1 of 2)

: 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 (Entry 2 of 2)

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