Synonyms of reserving

reserving

verb

present participle of reserve

1

as in booking

to arrange to have something (as a hotel room) held for one's future use

we made sure to reserve a kennel for our dog several months before the start of the family vacation

Synonyms & Similar Words

• booking
• hiring
• retaining
• earmarking
• bespeaking
• contracting
• engaging

2

as in retaining

to continue to have in one's possession or power

I'm reserving the right to work by myself if you don't do your share of the project

Synonyms & Similar Words

• retaining
• keeping
• holding
• preserving
• saving
• possessing
• having
• withholding
• protecting
• conserving
• enjoying
• guarding
• owning
• holding on to
• managing
• controlling
• hanging on to
• boasting
• directing
• ruling
• commanding
• detaining
• harboring
• hugging
• clinging (to)
• cherishing
• treasuring
• bearing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• releasing
• yielding
• relinquishing
• abandoning
• surrendering
• giving
• contributing
• dropping
• giving up
• donating
• dumping
• discarding
• ceding
• rejecting
• declining
• handing over
• handing out
• losing
• repudiating
• spurning

3

as in dedicating

to keep or intend for a special purpose

we must reserve this cup for ceremonial use only

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dedicating
• devoting
• saving
• allocating
• earmarking
• consecrating
• giving up (to)
• setting apart
• using
• setting aside
• entrusting
• setting by
• sanctifying
• employing
• consigning
• committing
• confiding
• applying
• blessing
• bestowing
• hallowing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignoring
• neglecting
• misusing
• misapplying

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of reserving

Samsung’s own teaser for the Galaxy S26 FE suggests MyFanCam and Horizontal Lock are coming to that device, which suggests Samsung isn’t reserving those features exclusively for the S26 flagship line. — Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026

But the principle also applies beyond retail—from concentrating bank-branch expertise on complex financial decisions to reserving B2B demonstration centers for solutions that are difficult to evaluate remotely. — Ayşe Çetinel, Harvard Business Review, 18 Aug. 2026

As a result, the group is considering a middle-ground approach, keeping the church, café, shops and certain common areas open to the public while reserving the cabins and other sections of the property for members or devotees. — Nadia Cantú, AZCentral.com, 14 Aug. 2026

Instead of using a large reasoning model for every step, developers can use Lightning for routine work while reserving larger models for planning and complex decisions. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 11 Aug. 2026

An entrance pass is not required to enter the park, but travelers are encouraged to plan their visit by reserving a boat or campsite or booking a tour ahead of time. — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 7 Aug. 2026

The city is considering changes to infrastructure, such as reserving curb space, to accommodate the Waymo rides, Pluckebaum said. — Madison Smalstig july 31, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026

Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta cooking liquid (don’t rinse pasta). — Claire Saffitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 July 2026

The protests stemmed from a High Court decision to uphold a quota system reserving 30% of government jobs for descendants of the veterans of the 1971 independence war. — Šumit Ganguly, NPR, 27 July 2026