reserve

1 of 2

verb

re·​serve ri-ˈzərv 

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

ri-ˈzər-və-bəl 

adjective

reserve

2 of 2

noun

often attributive

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

Phrases

in reserve

: held back for future or special use

Synonyms

Verb

• bespeak
• book

Noun

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

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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

While bottles from Napa Valley can’t be called champagne — that term is reserved for sparkling wine exclusively made in the Champagne region of France — modern California sparklers are on par with their French counterparts. —Katie Sweeney, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025

For decades, plum gigs at the top of corporations were mostly reserved for men with the right pedigrees and connections. —Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 19 June 2025

Noun

However, lawyers say several institutions are preparing litigation reserves on par with the maximum revenue-sharing pools stipulated by the House v. NCAA settlement. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 9 June 2025

For years, that someone has been the U.S. Issuing, rolling, and selling Treasuries at a scale that only the world’s reserve currency can sustain. —Jemma Green, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1648, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing reserve

• in reserve
• legal reserve
• nature reserve
• reserve bank
• reserve clause
• reserve judgment
• reserve price
• without reserve

Rhymes for reserve

• conserve
• deserve
• manoeuvre
• observe
• preserve
• subserve
• curve
• mirv
• nerve
• serve
• swerve
• verve

Kids Definition

reserve

1 of 2 verb

re·​serve ri-ˈzərv 

reserved; reserving

1

: to keep in store for future or special use

reserve that shirt for special occasions

2

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

reserve judgment on that matter

3

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

reserve a hotel room

reserve

2 of 2 noun

1

: something stored or available for future use : stock

oil reserves

2

a

: military forces held back or available for later use

—usually used in plural

b

: the military forces of a country not part of the regular services

3

: an area of land set apart

a wild game reserve

4

: restraint, closeness, or caution in one's words and behavior

5

: substitute entry 1

the reserves of the football team

Medical Definition

reserve

1 of 2 noun

re·​serve ri-ˈzərv 

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

2 of 2 adjective

: constituting or having the form or function of a reserve

a reserve supply

reserve strength

Legal Definition

reserve

1 of 2 transitive verb

re·​serve

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

2 of 2 noun

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

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

a loan loss reserve

: 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