reserved
Americanadjective
-
kept or set apart for some particular use or purpose.
-
kept by special arrangement for some person.
a reserved seat.
-
formal or self-restrained in manner and relationship; avoiding familiarity or intimacy with others.
a quiet, reserved man.
- Synonyms:
- composed, cold, distant, withdrawn, taciturn, constrained, reticent, controlled
-
characterized by reserve, as the disposition, manner, etc..
reserved comments.
- Synonyms:
- composed, cold, distant, withdrawn, taciturn, constrained, reticent, controlled
-
retaining the original color of a surface, especially when decorating portions of the surface with other colors.
adjective
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set aside for use by a particular person or people
this table is reserved
-
cool or formal in manner; restrained, silent, or reticent
-
destined; fated
reserved for great things
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referring to matters that are the responsibility of the national parliament rather than a devolved regional assembly
defence is a reserved issue
Other Word Forms
- overreserved adjective
- overreservedly adverb
- overreservedness noun
- reservedly adverb
- reservedness noun
Etymology
Origin of reserved
A late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75; reserve, -ed 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
On Friday, Nestle refuted the accusations made by the watchdog, saying it reserved the right to respond in court "if Foodwatch continues to disseminate misleading information".
From Barron's
"Feminism often seeks to appropriate signs that, socially and culturally, were long reserved for men, in order to assert -- or even visually normalise -- the fact that a woman can wield power and lead," she explained.
From Barron's
The once funny and outspoken personality agreed to talk to the BBC - but was reserved and didn't want to fully show his face.
From BBC
“Nicknames such as ‘Lizzie’ are reserved for barmaids and axe murderers, of which you are neither,” she once said.
From Literature
The company significantly expanded its offerings in 2025 “to give members access to investment tools traditionally reserved for the ultra wealthy,” Noto said.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
