reservation

American  

[rez-er-vey-shuhn] / ˌrɛz ərˈveɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of keeping back, withholding, or setting apart.

2. the act of making an exception or qualification.

3. an exception or qualification made expressly or tacitly.

   to accept something, but with inner reservations.

4. a tract of public land set apart for a special purpose, as for the use of an Indian tribe.

5. an arrangement to secure accommodations at a restaurant or hotel, on a boat or plane, etc.

6. the record kept or assurance given of such an arrangement.

   Sorry, the hotel has no reservation under that name.

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reservation British  

/ ˌrɛzəˈveɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of reserving

2. something reserved, esp hotel accommodation, a seat on an aeroplane, in a theatre, etc

3. (often plural) a stated or unstated qualification of opinion that prevents one's wholehearted acceptance of a proposal, claim, statement, etc

4. an area of land set aside, esp (in the US) for American Indian peoples

5. the strip of land between the two carriageways of a dual carriageway

6. the act or process of keeping back, esp for oneself; withholding

7. law a right or interest retained by the grantor in property granted, conveyed, leased, etc, to another

   a reservation of rent

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Other Word Forms

• nonreservation noun

Etymology

Origin of reservation

1350–1400; Middle English reservacioun < Middle French reservation, equivalent to reserv ( er ) to reserve + -ation -ation

Example Sentences

One user said he asked his agent to make a restaurant reservation for him.

From The Wall Street Journal

Captain Caelan Doris said on Wednesday that he has faith in young fly-half Sam Prendergast ahead of Ireland's daunting Six Nations opener away to reigning champions France in Paris, despite reservations about his defence.

From Barron's

“Great. But investors still want to see the reservations for next week.”

From Barron's

Many of the president’s supporters have come to share these reservations.

From The Wall Street Journal

The restaurant doesn’t take reservations, and the internet will warn you that weekend seating is nearly impossible.

From Salon

Related Words

• doubt
• restriction
• skepticism