reserve

American  

[ri-zurv] / rɪˈzɜrv /

verb (used with object)

• reserves,
  present (3rd person singular)
• reserved,
  past participle,  past
• reserving
  present participle

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

   Synonyms:

   store, hold, husband

   Antonyms:

   squander

2. to retain or secure by express stipulation.

3. to set apart for a particular use, purpose, service, etc..

   ground reserved for gardening.

4. to keep for oneself.

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

6. 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.

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noun

• reserves
  plural

1. Finance.

   1. 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.

   2. uninvested cash held to comply with legal requirements.

2. something kept or stored for use or need; stock.

   a reserve of food.

   Synonyms:

   supply

3. a resource not normally called upon but available if needed.

4. a tract of public land set apart for a special purpose.

   a forest reserve.

5. an act of reserving; reservation, exception, or qualification.

   I will do what you ask, but with one reserve.

6. Military.

   1. a fraction of a military force held in readiness to sustain the attack or defense made by the rest of the force.

   2. the part of a country's fighting force not in active service.

   3. reserves, the enrolled but not regular components of the U.S. Army.

7. formality and self-restraint in manner and relationship; avoidance of familiarity or intimacy with others.

   to conduct oneself with reserve.

   Antonyms:

   warmth

8. reticence or silence.

   Synonyms:

   coldness, constraint, taciturnity

   Antonyms:

   warmth

adjective

1. kept in reserve; forming a reserve.

   a reserve fund; a reserve supply.

2. of or relating to the animal awarded second place in livestock shows.

   the reserve champion steer.

idioms

1. without reserve,

   1. without restraint; frankly; freely.

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

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

   money in reserve.

reserve British  

/ rɪˈzɜːv /

verb

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

2. to keep for oneself; retain

   I reserve the right to question these men later

3. to obtain or secure by advance arrangement

   I have reserved two tickets for tonight's show

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

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noun

1. 1. something kept back or set aside, esp for future use or contingency

   2. ( as modifier )

      a reserve stock

2. the state or condition of being reserved

   I have plenty in reserve

3. a tract of land set aside for the protection and conservation of wild animals, flowers, etc

   a nature reserve

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

5. an area of publicly owned land set aside for sport, recreation, etc

6. the act of reserving; reservation

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

8. (often plural)

   1. a part of an army or formation not committed to immediate action in a military engagement

   2. that part of a nation's armed services not in active service

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

10. finance

    1. 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

    2. (often plural) liquid assets held by an organization, government, etc, to meet expenses and liabilities

11. without reservations; fully; wholeheartedly

Synonym Usage

See keep.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonreserve
  noun
• reserver
  noun
• nonreservable
  adjective
• reservable
  adjective
• reserveless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• reserves
  plural

Participles

• reserving
  present
• reserved
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• reserve
  simple
• reserves
  simple
• have reserved
  perfect
• has reserved
  perfect
• am reserving
  progressive
• are reserving
  progressive
• is reserving
  progressive
• have been reserving
  perfect progressive
• has been reserving
  perfect progressive

Past

• reserved
  simple
• had reserved
  perfect
• was reserving
  progressive
• were reserving
  progressive
• had been reserving
  perfect progressive

Future

• will reserve
  simple
• will have reserved
  perfect
• will be reserving
  progressive
• will have been reserving
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

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”

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Explanation

As a noun, reserve refers to the quality of a shy or modest person who doesn’t easily express his or her feelings. As a verb, to reserve is to stash something away or to set it aside for future use. Reserve can also refer to backup supplies or resources. If a military is running out of ammunition or food, they may have to dig into the reserve to replenish their supplies. Reserve is also used as a verb to mean "obtain in advance." If you’re expecting a big crowd at your sister's dance recital, you might show up early to reserve seats for your family members. You could also reserve a table at a restaurant for dinner after the show.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

reserve reserves reserved reserving

But it could encourage some conservative players, such as central-bank reserve managers, to stop buying.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

If you can afford to pay off the mortgage without leaving yourselves short of an adequate emergency reserve, I wouldn’t dismiss that choice completely just because it isn’t mathematically optimal on paper.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 21, 2026

Rams wide receiver Davante Adams will miss six to 10 weeks with a ruptured hamstring and Kobie Turner will be placed on injured reserve.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026

The 2025 Super Bowl winner was then placed on injured reserve so will miss at least four weeks, with back-up Tanner McKee coming in for his third NFL start at home to the Carolina Panthers.

From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026

Eventually, with the concept of a tacit reserve, a principle from moral philosophy is introduced directly into epistemology, establishing a limit to knowledge claims.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

They also adopted a hostile attitude toward Britain’s domestic fossil-fuel reserves.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

A US government estimate says China holds around 53 percent of global reserves.

From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026

Feelings of alienation have long ebbed and flowed in Alberta, a traditionally conservative province, home to the world’s fourth-largest proven oil reserves.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026

AM Best, which rates insurers, reported in April that about one-third of the industry’s annuity reserves sit with 95 companies that carry a lower credit rating now than they did in 2007.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 20, 2026

We are not, indeed, in the front-line, but only in the reserves, yet in every face can be read: This is the front, now we are within its embrace.

From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque

The only way going solo can have a negative impact on you is during the ticket-buying process for reserved seating events.

From Salon ● Oct. 21, 2026

When he talked with the Jewish American caucus, he had a more reserved, “I’m here to listen” kind of energy.

From Slate ● Oct. 19, 2026

One star recognises high-quality cooking, two stars indicate excellent cooking worth a detour, while three stars are reserved for exceptional cuisine worth a special journey.

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

Since 2022, Millstein has received a homestead exemption reserved for primary homes, which reduces the taxes he pays on his Florida mansion.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

Over the walkie-talkie, he heard a static-y version of Chip’s voice: “Oh, hello. Are you the person who reserved this conference room for three o’clock? The one who’s willing to talk?”

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Anyone wishing to take part in the free online conversation can do so by reserving a space on the event's booking website, external.

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

Just a few thousand cars are expected to be sold each year, with initial deliveries likely going to the people who began reserving their spot in line close to nine years ago.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 15, 2026

Gilroy added that, so far, four clubs have put in protective claims "reserving the right to claim compensation if City are found guilty".

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

She tries to have these conversations in-person or on a video call, reserving texting as a last resort.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

To clarify this point, I will often use the term ‘Sapiens’ to denote members of the species Homo sapiens, while reserving the term ‘human’ to refer to all extant members of the genus Homo.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari

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Related Words

• defer
• hoard
• maintain
• preserve
• retain
• save
• set aside
• stockpile
• withhold

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