reserved; reserving
1
a
: to hold in reserve : keep back
reserve grain for seed
b
: to set aside (part of the consecrated elements) at the Eucharist for future use
c
: to retain or hold over to a future time or place : defer
reserve one's judgment on a plan
d
: to make legal reservation of
2
: to set or have set aside or apart
reserve a hotel room
often attributive
1
: something reserved or set aside for a particular purpose, use, or reason: such as
a(1)
: a military force withheld from action for later decisive use
—usually used in plural
(2)
: forces not in the field but available
(3)
: the military forces of a country not part of the regular services
also
: reservist
b
: a tract (as of public land) set apart : reservation
2
: something stored or kept available for future use or need : stock
3
: an act of reserving : qualification
4
a
: restraint, closeness, or caution in one's words and actions
b
: forbearance from making a full explanation, complete disclosure, or free expression of one's mind
5
archaic
: secret
6
a
: money or its equivalent kept in hand or set apart usually to meet liabilities
b
: the liquid resources of a nation for meeting international payments
7
8
9
: a wine made from select grapes, bottled on the maker's premises, and aged differently from the maker's other wines of the same vintage
Synonyms
Examples of reserve in a Sentence
Verb
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.
Noun
He had to call upon his inner reserves of strength to keep going.
the salesclerk showed great reserve in dealing with the unreasonable demands of the angry customer
Recent Examples on the Web
Sheila Yount, arkansasonline.com, 11 Apr. 2024
The Biden administration is signaling the importance of its relationship with Tokyo by holding an official state dinner on Wednesday evening in honor of Mr. Kishida, something reserved for America’s closest allies.
—Michael D. Shear, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
All seating for this show is reserved, and tickets will be $48, $53, and $58.
—Chris Foran, Journal Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2024
When making this sweet treat ahead of time, just reserve the topping to add just before serving.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2024
The solar system units are reserved for second and fifth grade classrooms.
—The Enquirer, 8 Apr. 2024
Both can be reserved on Recreation.gov starting May 1, 2024 and cost only the $2 Recreation.gov processing fee.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 8 Apr. 2024
Must-win games are usually reserved for the playoffs.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2024
Vignettes’ pop-up bars are usually reserved for people 21 and older, but this one will be open for people 15 and older every Sunday through Thursday.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024
Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2024
As China builds its reserves, demand is pushing up prices already boosted by usual investors.
—Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
Those two games as a reserve marked Herro’s first time playing off the bench since the 2022 playoffs — the same season that he was named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2024
He’s now secured at least one more year professionally here, slated to be in a similar reserve role with the Chiefs as a season ago.
—Jesse Newell, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2024
The Nuggets will lean on three reserves — Peyton Watson, Christian Braun and Reggie Jackson.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2024
This beauty with absolute cult factor and a 56-hour power reserve comes in a 41 mm rose-gold case with a crown set with a stunning aquamarine cabochon for 110,000 Swiss francs (approx.
—Elizabeth Doerr, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024
The leaves soak up summer sun to make food reserves for the next blooming season.
—Katherine Owen, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2024
Road weary from a trip that took them from Milwaukee to Memphis to Indiana to Brooklyn and to Toronto before reaching Washington, D.C., the Lakers needed to find some last bit of reserve fuel to finish things off.
—Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Verb
Copyright © 2024, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. All rights reserved.
—Sheila Yount, arkansasonline.com, 11 Apr. 2024
The Biden administration is signaling the importance of its relationship with Tokyo by holding an official state dinner on Wednesday evening in honor of Mr. Kishida, something reserved for America’s closest allies.
—Michael D. Shear, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
All seating for this show is reserved, and tickets will be $48, $53, and $58.
—Chris Foran, Journal Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2024
When making this sweet treat ahead of time, just reserve the topping to add just before serving.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2024
The solar system units are reserved for second and fifth grade classrooms.
—The Enquirer, 8 Apr. 2024
Both can be reserved on Recreation.gov starting May 1, 2024 and cost only the $2 Recreation.gov processing fee.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 8 Apr. 2024
Must-win games are usually reserved for the playoffs.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2024
Vignettes’ pop-up bars are usually reserved for people 21 and older, but this one will be open for people 15 and older every Sunday through Thursday.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024
Noun
Deloitte's model projects the university will deplete its reserves within five years without any changes to existing operations.
—Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2024
As China builds its reserves, demand is pushing up prices already boosted by usual investors.
—Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
Those two games as a reserve marked Herro’s first time playing off the bench since the 2022 playoffs — the same season that he was named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2024
He’s now secured at least one more year professionally here, slated to be in a similar reserve role with the Chiefs as a season ago.
—Jesse Newell, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2024
The Nuggets will lean on three reserves — Peyton Watson, Christian Braun and Reggie Jackson.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2024
This beauty with absolute cult factor and a 56-hour power reserve comes in a 41 mm rose-gold case with a crown set with a stunning aquamarine cabochon for 110,000 Swiss francs (approx.
—Elizabeth Doerr, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024
The leaves soak up summer sun to make food reserves for the next blooming season.
—Katherine Owen, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2024
Road weary from a trip that took them from Milwaukee to Memphis to Indiana to Brooklyn and to Toronto before reaching Washington, D.C., the Lakers needed to find some last bit of reserve fuel to finish things off.
—Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reserve.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near reserve
Cite this Entry
“Reserve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reserve. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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 noun1
: 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share