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
Relevance
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dedicating
to keep or intend for a special purpose
we must reserve this cup for ceremonial use only
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reserving
Despite wooden signs prohibiting people reserving sun loungers with towels and then leaving them, the father-of-two said guests routinely ignored the warning.
—
Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 7 May 2026
Relying on satellite links to transmit data between the nodes and customers means dealing with limited bandwidth and signal delays—there is a reason data centers still use fiber-optic cables to transmit large amounts of data quickly while reserving satellite links as backups.
—Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 5 May 2026
Using tongs or a slotted spoon, transfer peas to a grill basket, reserving marinade.
—Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 May 2026
Starting with the 2027 ceremony, Oscar’s 99th, the Academy is reserving the right to inquire about the extent to which AI was used in a movie, as well as how it was used.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 1 May 2026
Regarding the Bears tax, Miller is reserving judgment without further information, but says Porter County would need to stand to gain.
—Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
The gunman entered the hotel by simply reserving a room there, and gained easy access through one layer of defenses but not beyond that.
—Juliette Kayyem, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
Transfer chicken to a plate skin-side up, reserving drippings in skillet; set aside.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 24 Apr. 2026
Reserve a parking spot Fans heading into Pittsburgh can check real-time availability on ParkPGH, but Visit Pittsburgh recommends reserving a spot on a platform like ParkWhiz.
—Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026
Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 7 May 2026
Relying on satellite links to transmit data between the nodes and customers means dealing with limited bandwidth and signal delays—there is a reason data centers still use fiber-optic cables to transmit large amounts of data quickly while reserving satellite links as backups.
—Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 5 May 2026
Using tongs or a slotted spoon, transfer peas to a grill basket, reserving marinade.
—Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 May 2026
Starting with the 2027 ceremony, Oscar’s 99th, the Academy is reserving the right to inquire about the extent to which AI was used in a movie, as well as how it was used.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 1 May 2026
Regarding the Bears tax, Miller is reserving judgment without further information, but says Porter County would need to stand to gain.
—Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
The gunman entered the hotel by simply reserving a room there, and gained easy access through one layer of defenses but not beyond that.
—Juliette Kayyem, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
Transfer chicken to a plate skin-side up, reserving drippings in skillet; set aside.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 24 Apr. 2026
Reserve a parking spot Fans heading into Pittsburgh can check real-time availability on ParkPGH, but Visit Pittsburgh recommends reserving a spot on a platform like ParkWhiz.
—Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reserving
Verb
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Since announcing that Glasgow flights would return, Stevens said, United has been encouraged by booking trends.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
10 May 2026
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That makes booking a newer ship one of the simplest ways to stack the odds in your favor.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
Verb
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This includes retaining at least 165 of the 177 tuition contracts that have already been signed by families as of April 27 for the 2026-27 academic year.—
Claire Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2026
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That’s why the Bulldogs placed a premium on retaining key players, including Elijah Griffin, Nate Frazier and KJ Bolden.—
Connor Riley,
AJC.com,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Jarvis worked hard to create Mother’s Day, writing letters to churches, politicians, and city leaders, and eventually, a resolution was passed in Congress, dedicating the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.—
Finch Walker,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
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Highland Park's decades-long DART membership Highland Park had also been part of DART since 1983, dedicating one cent of its local sales tax, the maximum allowed under state law for transit, to the agency.—
Sergio Candido,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
Verb
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At a raucous commission meeting Tuesday, City Manager Rickelle Williams faced a storm of withering accusations in her initial job evaluation — mostly from Mayor Dean Trantalis, who eagerly supported hiring Williams last year but now scorns her in public.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
8 May 2026
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Last year, Scott clashed with Wyrick over the hiring process for a new city manager to replace Moore, who died in October 2023.—
Joseph Flaherty,
Arkansas Online,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Here, the Sport+ drive mode does a commendable job of keeping the transmission in the meaty parts of the powerband, while dialing the dampers back to Sport achieves the right balance of body control and compliance on these less-than-perfect road surfaces.—
Bradley Iger,
Robb Report,
8 May 2026
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However, the best way to use this week is to practice a star-hop or two, keeping sessions short and focused.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Cignetti has benefited from Indiana devoting more resources and spending on football than ever before, both from an infrastructure and roster perspective, and by using the transfer portal, where the Hoosiers were able to add several standouts.—
Antonio Morales,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
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Thorne and director Marc Munden made other changes, devoting extra time to a destructive fire caused by the boys’ poor decision-making (and refusal to listen to Piggy).—
Stuart Miller,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Stay open while holding practical boundaries.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
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On the other side of the building, Ford City’s lone anchor store, JCPenney, is holding its going-out-of-business sale.—
Audrey Pachuta,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Aether enthusiasts contorted themselves in knots attempting to explain this null result while still saving the notion of the aether itself.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
7 May 2026
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Patrick Kestler, a gang expert who has been following Jones and Gorman throughout their storied rap careers, analyzing their lyrics, saving their Instagram posts, and even searching through Gorman’s phone after he was arrested last year on suspicion of possessing ammunition as a felon in Stockton.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reserving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reserving. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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