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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of reserving
The annual feature began in 2005 as a spinoff of then-Tribune dining critic Phil Vettel’s now-defunct Save the Tables, reserving show tickets instead of restaurant tables for New Year’s Eve.
—
Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 24 Dec. 2024
Remove half the clams from their shells, reserving the other half for garnish.
—Claudia Alarcón, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024
Try reserving delicates for their own load and run them on a gentle cycle to prevent pilling, snags, and other damage.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Dec. 2024
In 2021, the city modified those rules to allow traffic during the week while reserving the road for pedestrians during weekends.
—Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2024
But that hasn’t stopped Franklin from reserving a flight to and hotel reservation in Houston.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 12 Dec. 2024
Rather than choosing between early promotion and Cyber Week presence, successful strategies might require maintaining consistent visibility across the extended season while still reserving significant budget for peak shopping days.
—Kiri Masters, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
Cole is also reserving 2,014 tickets that will be available for just $1.
—Matthew Strauss, Pitchfork, 30 Nov. 2024
Consider reserving a pair for January 20, 2025.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2024
Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 24 Dec. 2024
Remove half the clams from their shells, reserving the other half for garnish.
—Claudia Alarcón, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024
Try reserving delicates for their own load and run them on a gentle cycle to prevent pilling, snags, and other damage.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Dec. 2024
In 2021, the city modified those rules to allow traffic during the week while reserving the road for pedestrians during weekends.
—Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2024
But that hasn’t stopped Franklin from reserving a flight to and hotel reservation in Houston.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 12 Dec. 2024
Rather than choosing between early promotion and Cyber Week presence, successful strategies might require maintaining consistent visibility across the extended season while still reserving significant budget for peak shopping days.
—Kiri Masters, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
Cole is also reserving 2,014 tickets that will be available for just $1.
—Matthew Strauss, Pitchfork, 30 Nov. 2024
Consider reserving a pair for January 20, 2025.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reserving
Verb
-
More than half of Wall Street analysts maintain a hold rating on the stock, with nearly a third retaining a sell or underweight rating, according to FactSet.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
30 Dec. 2024
-
The proposals call out warnings around discriminatory lawsuits like that of Starbucks, retaining a chief diversity officer position, and citing concern over Costco's unwavering commitment to equity.—
Simone E. Morris,
Forbes,
28 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Even Izzard’s brief epilogue, charmingly dedicating the performance to a fellow thespian, crackles with more verve than the most famous of soliloquies.—
Karen D'Souza,
Mercury News,
7 Apr. 2025
-
The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission has pushed to add new REAL ID appointments over the last few months through efforts such as dedicating Thursdays to processing the new IDs and upcoming mobile unit appointments aimed at reaching more ID seekers.—
CNN.com,
Mercury News,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Palm Beach County needs to get a lot more serious about hiring its first new county administrator in a decade.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2025
-
The board also approved unanimously a district policy that bans an employee from evaluating, hiring or working on the same campus as an immediate family member.—
Lina Ruiz,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Van Dijk will not enjoy the replays either but Liverpool’s captain responded in a way that should remind everyone — in the week that Salah’s new contract was announced — about the importance of keeping the Dutchman at Anfield.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2025
-
In this case, blocking high pressure has tended to focus on Britain's part of Europe, keeping it unusually dry and rather pleasant.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Season Two didn’t always help itself in that regard, devoting entire installments to Cold Harbor and to the origin of the severance process itself.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
21 Mar. 2025
-
But was that context enough to justify devoting an entire episode — even a relatively compact 38-minute one — to it, this late in a season where the characters the audience is most invested in have now been in limbo for multiple chapters in a row?—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
This tiny spot has everything needed for relaxation—a pair of Adirondack chairs to lean back and reflect on the day and a tiny table for holding drinks and snacks.—
Libby Monteith Minor,
Southern Living,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Again, this man has been holding onto so much, and things have just been compacted for him.—
Katcy Stephan,
Variety,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
A day—or week—of being surrounded by flowering, textural plants while doing good for the future by preserving the past provides lasting benefits and more fragrant spaces for all.—
Jennifer Prince,
Southern Living,
12 Apr. 2025
-
Show Them Some Love Regular maintenance, including cleaning, is key for preserving your collection.—
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
12 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Fass shared a story about pairing younger, digitally fluent employees, steady middle managers, and older employees possessing crystallized wisdom and intelligence.—
Dan Pontefract,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
-
Kim has been charged with multiple crimes ranging from destruction of property, arson and possessing a fire device, according to jail records.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
27 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reserving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reserving. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share