reserve

verb re·serve \ ri-ˈzərv \

|Updated on: 20 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: reserve in a Sentence

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

Benford’s catering business provides a financial foundation while the restaurant grows; people can also reserve the space for events.

— alison bowen, chicagotribune.com, "From prison to pioneer: a chef's dream to transform one Chicago corner," 9 July 2018
An interim suspension prevents a student organization from holding events, reserving space or enjoying the other privileges of student organization status.

— karen herzog, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "UW suspends Kappa Sigma after woman nearly hit by falling television at party," 5 July 2018
The lawsuit details how the frat spent $1,500 last December to reserve a waterfront pavilion at the Cypress Inn for a Feb. 23 event, however on Feb. 6, the Inn canceled the reservation, refunding the deposit.

— breanna edwards, The Root, "'We've Had Problems With Your Kind Before': Black Frat Files Racial-Discrimination Lawsuit Against Alabama Restaurant," 5 July 2018
Normally, their Sundays are reserved for Tamburitza and Kolo lessons open to anyone over 8 years old.

— dave hyde, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Hyde: Will the World Cup and morning TV end with a Croatian surprise? | Commentary," 14 July 2018
Back in May, the nearly perfect series was capped off by a beautiful and moving finale, which means the show can live on undisturbed in the streaming heaven reserved for shows that didn't crash and burn their landing (*cough* Dexter).

— refinery29.com, "This Is Keri Russell's Time To Shine — Welcome To The Russell-ution, Comrades," 13 July 2018
Nearly three decades later, the unincorporated area known as Garden City is a federal Superfund site, a designation reserved for the nation's most heavily polluted locations.

— brian slodysko, Houston Chronicle, "Pence family gas stations left costly environmental legacy," 13 July 2018
Nearly three decades later, the unincorporated area known as Garden City is a federal Superfund site, a designation reserved for the nation's most heavily polluted locations.

— brian slodysko, The Courier-Journal, "Cleanup of Pence family's failed gas stations cost Indiana taxpayers $20M," 13 July 2018
Borgata – Though expansion is on the horizon, the current sportsbook is small, with just about all of the seating reserved for those playing the horses.

— ed barkowitz, Philly.com, "Comparing the sportsbooks at Atlantic City's Borgata and Ocean Resort ahead of the World Cup final," 11 July 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

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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

In 2019, Israel will make a final investment decision on a 2,000-kilometer pipeline linking its gas reserves to Europe via Greece and Italy.

— david isaac, Jewish Journal, "Israel and China start conversation about mutual ties," 11 July 2018
However, San Francisco officials were desperate for more water at the turn of the century, especially when the 1906 earthquake and subsequent fires exposed the shortfalls of its reserves.

— kurtis alexander, SFChronicle.com, "Appeals court rejects effort to tear down Yosemite’s Hetch Hetchy Reservoir," 10 July 2018
Those reserves are especially important because, unlike the federal government, states don’t run budget deficits in downturns.

— david harrison, WSJ, "Many States Are Likely Unprepared for Next Downturn," 8 July 2018
That water carries nutrients with it, leaching the potting soil of its reserves.

— neil sperry, star-telegram, "The tough half of the gardening marathon is ahead. Here's how to finish strong," 6 July 2018
District reserves for 2018-19 are current projected to be about $52 million.

— emily sorensen, Pomerado News, "PUSD budget shows deficits in future," 13 June 2018
Who are the role players going to be next season when reserves/free-agents-to-be like David West, Nick Young, JaVale McGee, Zaza Pachulia, and Kevon Looney won’t likely be part of the program?

— sam amick, USA TODAY, "Warriors bask in latest title parade, but future championships are hardly promised," 12 June 2018
But the reserves for the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, which pays retirement and survivor benefits, will be unable to pay full benefits in 2034, according to the report.

— michelle singletary, BostonGlobe.com, "Worried about cuts to Social Security?," 8 June 2018
Mocimboa da Praia, where the attacks started, is 1,800 kilometers (1,118 miles) northeast of Maputo, and Palma, where the offshore gas reserves that Eni, ExxonMobil and Anadarko are developing, is about 80 kilometers north of that.

— matthew hill, Bloomberg.com, "Beheadings Signal Threat to Mozambique's $30 Billion Bonanza," 6 June 2018

First Known Use of reserve

1648

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

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