reserve

verb

re·​serve ri-ˈzərv 

reserved; reserving

transitive verb

1

a

: to make arrangements for use or possession of (something) at a later time

We reserved a room at the hotel for our trip.

The table is reserved for another party.

b

: to hold in reserve : keep back for future use

reserve grain for seed

reserved the bottle of champagne for a special occasion

reserve the right to make later changes

c

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

d

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

reserve one's judgment on a plan

e

: to make legal reservation of

2

: to set or have set aside or apart for a particular use

reserves the car for longer drives

reservable

ri-ˈzər-və-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms of reserve

• book

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

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 on the Web

The fund had been halved to $500,000 in the mayor’s initial budget message, with the remainder reserved for emergency allocation only if federal enforcement activity spiked. —Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 10 June 2026

In an email advising Simon ticketholders how to avoid traffic backups near The Shell on Tuesday, the symphony recommended reserving parking in advance at the IQHQ/RaDD (Research and Development District) garage and then walking about 15 minutes to the concert venue. —George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026

In the Londzell Performing Arts Theatre in Tucker, on Atlanta's east side, fans can reserve free tickets to the ultimate World Cup watch experience. —Irene Wright, USA Today, 9 June 2026

Under regulations set out by FIFA, roughly 8% of the tickets to every World Cup match were reserved for each team competing in it so that national federations could sell them to their fans. —Ben Church, CNN Money, 9 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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

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