reserve

1 of 2

verb

re·​serve ri-ˈzərv How to pronounce reserve (audio)
reserved; reserving

transitive verb

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
reservable adjective

reserve

2 of 2

noun

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
Phrases
in reserve
: held back for future or special use
Choose the Right Synonym for reserve

keep, retain, detain, withhold, reserve mean to hold in one's possession or under one's control.

keep may suggest a holding securely in one's possession, custody, or control.

keep this while I'm gone

retain implies continued keeping, especially against threatened seizure or forced loss.

managed to retain their dignity even in poverty

detain suggests a delay in letting go.

detained them for questioning

withhold implies restraint in letting go or a refusal to let go.

withheld information from the authorities

reserve suggests a keeping in store for future use.

reserve some of your energy for the last mile

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
Verb
Copyright © 2024, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. All rights reserved. John Brummett, arkansasonline.com, 6 Mar. 2024 Campers can reserve a spot at Round Lake through Recreation.gov for the upcoming season, which starts May 15. Jennifer Dixon, Detroit Free Press, 6 Mar. 2024 Her outstanding performance will be recognized with Southport’s prestigious STARS Award (Students Tackling Academic Rigor Successfully), reserved for students graduating with a 4.0 or higher GPA. Joe Mutascio, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Mar. 2024 Last year, only one person filed a permit to reserve a section of the park to propose, said California Highway Patrol Officer Paul Moos. Stephen Hobbs, Sacramento Bee, 4 Mar. 2024 In a letter to tenants, Arris management said Terrill circumvented a locked gate that is supposed to prevent people from reaching floors of the garage reserved for residents. Peter Hermann, Washington Post, 2 Mar. 2024 Remarkable Healthcare of Fort Worth was identified as one of the nation’s most troubled nursing homes in January 2023, when the federal government designed it as a Special Focus Facility, a designation reserved for homes with the most serious and long-standing health and safety violations. Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Mar. 2024 Customers can reserve an adapter through their FordPass smartphone app. Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 29 Feb. 2024 Just as Netflix did last year, Amazon Prime Video will hold a showcase for Madison Avenue during the May period once reserved mainly for traditional TV networks. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 22 Feb. 2024
Noun
Given the size of the city’s budget, two months of reserves offers flexibility for the city to respond to unplanned events and continue government operations without interruption, Lee’s office notes. Meagan Flynn, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024 Today, the Florida legislature requires all condominiums to be inspected, up to code as well as maintain a minimum amount of reserves in case repairs are needed. Rebecca San Juan, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2024 Matthews pointed out the differences between her organization and BMI now that the latter is a for-profit entity, saying that after taking a reasonable reserve — and covering expenses — 90 cents of every dollar is distributed to ASCAP songwriters. Ed Christman, Billboard, 6 Mar. 2024 Newsom must declare a fiscal emergency to access reserves. Jenavieve Hatch, Sacramento Bee, 6 Mar. 2024 The road map includes a formula for sharing revenues from Yemen’s oil and gas reserves, which are located outside the Houthi zone of control, and have been largely offline for years. Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2024 With all the injuries, he’s been asked to play a variety of roles — including point guard on occasion — and showed his versatility as a starter and reserve. Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 4 Mar. 2024 The ability to understand and share the feelings of others replenishes our emotional reserves and cultivates connection. Mark Travers, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 One reserve captain, Moti Ashkenazi, began a lone protest a few months after the 1973 war. Isabel Kershner, New York Times, 28 Feb. 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.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French reserver, from Latin reservare, literally, to keep back, from re- + servare to keep — more at conserve

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1648, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of reserve was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near reserve

Cite this Entry

“Reserve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reserve. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

reserve

1 of 2 verb
re·​serve ri-ˈzərv How to pronounce reserve (audio)
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 noun
1
: 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 How to pronounce reserve (audio)
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

Legal Definition

reserve

1 of 2 transitive verb
re·​serve
reserved; reserving
: to keep back or set apart: as
a
: to keep (a right, power, or interest) especially by express declaration
all rights reserved
compare waive
b
: to defer a determination of (a question of law)
the justices reserved the question because it was not an issue in the case

reserve

2 of 2 noun
1
: something stored or kept available for future use
an energy company with various unproven oil reserves
2
: an act of reserving
3
: money kept in a separate account to meet future liabilities
legal reserve
: the minimum amount as determined by government standards of the deposits held by a bank or of the assets of a life insurance company required by law to be kept as reserves
loss reserve
: a reserve allocated by a bank for the purpose of absorbing losses a loan loss reserve
: an insurance company's reserve representing the discounted value of future payments to be made on losses which may have already occurred
policy reserve
: an insurance company's reserve representing the difference in value between the net premiums and assumed claims for a given year in life insurance
unearned premium reserve
: a reserve of funds which represents premiums paid to an insurance company but not yet applied to policy coverage and from which a policyholder is paid a refund in the event of cancellation prior to the period for which premiums have been paid
4

More from Merriam-Webster on reserve

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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