reserve

[ ri-zurv ]

/ rɪˈzɜrv /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR reserve ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), re·served, re·serv·ing.

to keep back or save for future use, disposal, treatment, etc.

to retain or secure by express stipulation.

to set apart for a particular use, purpose, service, etc.: ground reserved for gardening.

to keep for oneself.

to retain (the original color) of a surface, as on a painted ceramic piece.

to save or set aside (a portion of the Eucharistic elements) to be administered, as to the sick, outside of the Mass or communion service.

noun

Finance.

cash, or assets readily convertible into cash, held aside, as by a corporation, bank, state or national government, etc., to meet expected or unexpected demands.
uninvested cash held to comply with legal requirements.

something kept or stored for use or need; stock: a reserve of food.

a resource not normally called upon but available if needed.

a tract of public land set apart for a special purpose: a forest reserve.

an act of reserving; reservation, exception, or qualification: I will do what you ask, but with one reserve.

Military.

a fraction of a military force held in readiness to sustain the attack or defense made by the rest of the force.
the part of a country's fighting force not in active service.
reserves, the enrolled but not regular components of the U.S. Army.

formality and self-restraint in manner and relationship; avoidance of familiarity or intimacy with others: to conduct oneself with reserve.

reticence or silence.

adjective

kept in reserve; forming a reserve: a reserve fund; a reserve supply.

of or relating to the animal awarded second place in livestock shows: the reserve champion steer.

QUIZZES

TAKE THIS QUIZ IF A DAZZLING VOCABULARY IS YOUR DESIDERATUM!

Have the Words of the Day from October 19–25, 2020, made an indelible mark on your memory? Take the quiz to find out!

Question 1 of 7

What does “clement” mean?

having or claiming to have the power of seeing objects or actions beyond the range of natural vision.

mild or merciful in disposition or character; lenient; compassionate.

favorite; cherished.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms for reserve

in reserve, put aside or withheld for a future need; reserved: money in reserve.

without reserve,

without restraint; frankly; freely.
(of articles at auction) without limitation as to the terms of sale, especially with no stipulated minimum price.

Origin of reserve

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English reserven (verb) from Middle French reserver, from Latin reservāre “to keep back, retain,” equivalent to re- re- + servāre “to save”

SYNONYMS FOR reserve

1 husband, hold, store.

8 supply.

14 taciturnity, constraint, coldness.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR reserve ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR reserve

1 squander.

13, 14 warmth.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR reserve ON THESAURUS.COM

synonym study for reserve

1. See keep.

OTHER WORDS FROM reserve

re·serv·a·ble, adjectivere·serve·less, adjectivenon·re·serv·a·ble, adjectivenon·re·serve, noun, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH reserve

re-serve, reserve

Words nearby reserve

resentful, resentment, reserpine, reservation, reservationist, reserve, reserve air, reserve bank, reserve buoyancy, reserve capacity, reserve clause

Definition for reserve (2 of 2)

re-serve

[ ree-surv ]

/ riˈsɜrv /

verb (used with or without object), re-served, re-serv·ing.

to serve again.

Origin of re-serve

First recorded in 1865–70; re- + serve

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH re-serve

re-serve , reserve

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for reserve

We reserve the right to any legal action to prevent new pranks of the kind.
When Countries Lose Their Shit Over American Movies|Asawin Suebsaeng|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The actor and police enthusiast reportedly wants to be a reserve officer.
LAPD Foundation: Mark Wahlberg Would Make a Good Reserve Cop|Asawin Suebsaeng|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We can make that reserve bigger by living a more active lifestyle and exercising, pushing our bodies to do more.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Risky Heart Surgery|Dr. Anand Veeravagu, MD|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That reserve gets smaller with sedentary lifestyles, and with age.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Risky Heart Surgery|Dr. Anand Veeravagu, MD|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The president is right in his criticisms, but wrong to reserve them only for the Republican Party.
The Pipeline From Hell: There’s No Good Reason to Build Keystone XL|Jack Holmes|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Bruce, as he had arranged, was in reserve with Carrick and the Isles.
The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 07|Various
David, seizing the opportunity, deposited his reserve of lozenges in the ground and hastily swept some earth over them.
Brother Jacob|George Eliot
To Cromwell there must have been something specially galling in More's attitude of reserve.
History of the English People, Volume III (of 8)|John Richard Green
The prompt use, at the proper moment, of the reserve, may decide the battle.
A Treatise on the Tactical Use of the Three Arms: Infantry, Artillery, and Cavalry|Francis J. Lippitt
The air will tend to pass out too quickly, reserve it and allow it to pass out steadily and regularly.
How to Add Ten Years to your Life and to Double Its Satisfactions|S. S. Curry

British Dictionary definitions for reserve (1 of 2)

reserve

/ (rɪˈzɜːv) /

verb (tr)

to keep back or set aside, esp for future use or contingency; withhold

to keep for oneself; retainI reserve the right to question these men later

to obtain or secure by advance arrangementI have reserved two tickets for tonight's show

to delay delivery of (a judgment), esp in order to allow time for full consideration of the issues involved

noun

something kept back or set aside, esp for future use or contingency
(as modifier)a reserve stock

the state or condition of being reservedI have plenty in reserve

a tract of land set aside for the protection and conservation of wild animals, flowers, etca nature reserve

Also called: reservation Canadian an area of land set aside, esp (in the US and Canada) for American or Canadian Indian peoples

Australian and NZ an area of publicly owned land set aside for sport, recreation, etc

the act of reserving; reservation

a member of a team who only plays if a playing member drops out; a substitute

(often plural)

a part of an army or formation not committed to immediate action in a military engagement
that part of a nation's armed services not in active service

coolness or formality of manner; restraint, silence, or reticence

finance

a portion of capital not invested (a capital reserve) or a portion of profits not distributed (a revenue or general reserve) by a bank or business enterprise and held to meet legal requirements, future liabilities, or contingencies
(often plural) liquid assets held by an organization, government, etc, to meet expenses and liabilities

without reserve without reservations; fully; wholeheartedly

Derived forms of reserve

reservable, adjectivereserver, noun

Word Origin for reserve

C14: from Old French reserver, from Latin reservāre to save up, from re- + servāre to keep

British Dictionary definitions for reserve (2 of 2)

re-serve

/ (riːˈsɜːv) /

verb

(tr) to serve again

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for reserve

reserve

[ rĭ-zûrv′ ]

v.

To keep back, as for future use or for a special purpose.

To set or cause to be set apart for a particular person or use.

n.

Something kept back or saved for future use or a special purpose.

adj.

Held back, set aside, or saved.

Forming a reserve.

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

reserve

verb (used with object), re·served, re·serv·ing.