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
The culinary experiences were highlights of the stay and absolutely worth reserving in advance, whether that’s for dinner at PUR’ or for the hotel’s recent addition of afternoon tea time, built around cookies.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 June 2026
Carefully drain all but 3 tablespoons of the fat, reserving any excess for later.
—Emily Weinstein, Twin Cities, 4 June 2026
Organizers also extended invites to both Independence city council members and Jackson County legislators Tuesday night, reserving the front row of the Rhapsody symbolically for local leaders.
—Ilana Arougheti
june 4, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2026
On social media, users complained about the difficulty of reserving tickets for the format.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 4 June 2026
Seating is first-come, first-served and reserving a space with a blanket is not permitted, according to the association’s website.
—Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2026
The site lists fasting insulin levels, HOMA-IR and QUICKI as the most accessible direct measures of insulin resistance, while reserving the euglycemic insulin clamp for research settings.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 3 June 2026
Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking water.
—Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 2 June 2026
Others made the distinction between how families are reserving the chairs.
—Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2026
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 June 2026
Carefully drain all but 3 tablespoons of the fat, reserving any excess for later.
—Emily Weinstein, Twin Cities, 4 June 2026
Organizers also extended invites to both Independence city council members and Jackson County legislators Tuesday night, reserving the front row of the Rhapsody symbolically for local leaders.
—Ilana Arougheti
june 4, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2026
On social media, users complained about the difficulty of reserving tickets for the format.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 4 June 2026
Seating is first-come, first-served and reserving a space with a blanket is not permitted, according to the association’s website.
—Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2026
The site lists fasting insulin levels, HOMA-IR and QUICKI as the most accessible direct measures of insulin resistance, while reserving the euglycemic insulin clamp for research settings.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 3 June 2026
Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking water.
—Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 2 June 2026
Others made the distinction between how families are reserving the chairs.
—Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reserving
Verb
-
The strategy is being driven by the conviction that the future of AI belongs to autonomous agents capable of executing complex, multi-step tasks — such as booking travel or managing calendars — rather than simply answering queries.—
Amedeo Goria,
Fortune,
7 June 2026
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That's especially true at Singapore Changi Airport (SIN), which was recently named the world’s best layover airport by Airport Parking and Hotels, an airport parking and hotel booking company servicing the United Kingdom.—
Kristine Hansen,
Travel + Leisure,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
Clean streets, safe neighborhoods, reliable infrastructure, and vibrant commercial corridors are essential to attracting and retaining talent and businesses.—
Mercury News Editorial Board,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
-
Thomson, who was born in Ontario, Canada, played for the University of Kansas Jayhawks in the 1980s, leading the team in hits in the 1984 and 1985 seasons and retaining the school’s record for the highest single-season batting average.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
The Phillies acknowledged Castellanos on Tuesday night by dedicating a between-innings promotional segment sponsored by Chick-fil-A to show highlights of the right fielder’s sliding catches during the 2022 postseason.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
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With tears rolling down her face, the 23-year-old addressed the French Open crowd after reaching the first grand slam semifinal of her career, dedicating her achievement to the people of Ukraine who continue to face an uncertain future amid the war with Russia.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
Verb
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When Tracy was elevated from Triple-A to the big leagues Breslow didn’t rule out hiring a permanent manager midseason.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
-
The airline has been hiring crew members from the defunct Spirit Airlines and expanding its pilot base at FLL.—
Jeff Kleinman,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Taken together, the two measures highlight a growing tension in a state that prides itself on stewardship of the environment, as policymakers aim to protect threatened or endangered animals while also keeping people, pets and livestock safe.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
29 May 2026
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Studies found little real difference, but the new patent was an effective tool for keeping generics at bay and continuing to collect monopoly profits.—
Wayne T Brough,
Oc Register,
29 May 2026
Verb
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That meant last summer devoting resources to improving the Hurricane Harbor water park, which Lawrence says specifically attracts families and grandparents.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
-
The Man-At-Arms, also known as Duncan, serves as He-Man's mentor and father figure in the film, devoting his time to He-Man.—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
Verb
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The National Federation of Independent Business has warned that small businesses and consumers who rely on energy, rather than oil giants, will end up holding the bag.—
Yaël Ossowski,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
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Ahead of the endorsement vote, Klobuchar supporters holding batons with flashing green lights dominated the convention floor.—
Alex Derosier,
Twin Cities,
30 May 2026
Verb
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This means your luggage can actually last a lifetime—saving you big bucks in the long run.—
Meaghan Kenny,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
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Ninety-eight percent of the rain that falls can be captured, ultimately saving more than 1 million gallons of water a year and reducing building water use by about 89%.—
Tara Molina,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reserving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reserving. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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