reserve
reserve — verb
1. to deliberately hold something back so that it stays available for a later momen
to deliberately hold something back so that it stays available for a later moment, a specific purpose, or a particular person — for example, saving the last slice of cake for your brother, or keeping the right to leave a meeting whenever you want.
Yael reserved the front row of seats for the players' families.
reserve + object + for + people
Please reserve some milk for the morning coffee.
reserve + portion + for + purpose
The judge reserved the right to reopen the case if new evidence appeared.
reserve the right + to-infinitive (legal/formal)
Imran always reserves his sharpest jokes for the end of his stand-up show.
reserve + best/key item + for end/climax
The back garden was reserved for the children to play in safely.
passive: be reserved for + group
- reserve the right to
- reserve judgment
- reserve comment
- reserve energy
- reserve space
Grammar Patterns
reserve + object + for + noun/purpose
reserve + the right + to-infinitive
Usage Note
Subject is usually a person or institution that controls the resource. Frequently followed by 'for' to name the beneficiary or purpose. The fixed phrase 'reserve the right to do something' is common in legal and formal contexts; distinguish from sense 2, which is about booking a specific item like a seat or table.
Common Mistakes
2. to ask a restaurant, hotel, airline, or similar business to keep a seat, table,
to ask a restaurant, hotel, airline, or similar business to keep a seat, table, room, or ticket available for you on a chosen date, so that nobody else can take it.
Nellie reserved a window table at the Italian restaurant for Friday night.
reserve + table + for + day
Karim phoned the cinema to reserve four tickets for the late show.
reserve + tickets + for + event
On the phone, Beatriz asked the hotel clerk to reserve a double room for two nights.
polite booking phrase: ask to reserve…
Antonia reserved seats on the morning train to Kyoto a month in advance.
reserve + seats + on + transport
The library lets students reserve study rooms online up to a week ahead.
reserve + space + via online system
- reserve a table
- reserve a seat
- reserve a room
- reserve tickets
- reserve in advance
- reserve online
- cancel
undo a booking that has already been made
Grammar Patterns
reserve + a seat/table/room
reserve + object + for + person
Usage Note
Object is typically a countable, scheduled resource: a seat, table, room, ticket, or court. In American English, 'make a reservation' is often used in conversation, while 'reserve' sounds slightly more formal. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense always involves arranging with a provider, not simply holding something back yourself.
Common Mistakes
reserve — noun
1. a quiet, controlled way of behaving in which a person keeps personal feelings, o
a quiet, controlled way of behaving in which a person keeps personal feelings, opinions, or thoughts private rather than sharing them openly with others.
Christopher spoke with great reserve about his time in the army.
with + reserve (manner phrase)
Renata's natural reserve made it hard for new colleagues to know her.
possessive + natural reserve
Over dinner, Apinya finally dropped her reserve and laughed at the silly jokes.
drop one's reserve (lose inhibition)
The young pianist played without reserve, pouring all her feelings into the music.
without reserve (freely)
- natural reserve
- drop one's reserve
- with reserve
- without reserve
- quiet reserve
Grammar Patterns
with reserve
without reserve
Usage Note
Almost always uncountable and singular; takes possessive determiners ('his reserve', 'her reserve'). Distinguish from sense 9 (doubt about something) — this sense is a stable personality trait, not a reaction to a particular thing.
Common Mistakes
2. an amount of something useful — for example food, water, fuel, or even physical
an amount of something useful — for example food, water, fuel, or even physical strength — that a person or country stores now and keeps untouched until a later situation calls for it.
The hikers had small reserves of water for the second day on the mountain.
reserves of + uncountable noun
By the third lap, Tamar drew on her last reserves of strength to finish the race.
draw on reserves of (use up)
Norway's oil reserves are among the largest in Europe.
[country] + oil reserves
We always keep a reserve of candles in the cupboard for power cuts.
keep a reserve of + noun
After the long winter, the village's grain reserves were almost gone.
grain reserves (collocation)
- reserves of energy
- oil reserves
- food reserves
- build up reserves
- use up reserves
- draw on reserves
- shortage
lack rather than saved supply
Grammar Patterns
reserves of + noun
in reserve
Usage Note
Frequently plural ('reserves of energy', 'oil reserves'). Often the object of verbs like 'have', 'keep', 'build up', 'draw on', and 'use up'. Distinguish from sense 3 — sense 2 is the supply itself; sense 3 narrows to financial resources held back for emergencies.
Common Mistakes
3. cash, gold, or fuel that a company, bank, or country deliberately holds back fro
cash, gold, or fuel that a company, bank, or country deliberately holds back from daily spending, so the funds stand ready to pay debts or to handle a sudden crisis.
Quinn's small bookshop survived the recession because of its cash reserves.
cash reserves (financial collocation)
Japan holds huge foreign currency reserves to protect the yen.
foreign currency / foreign exchange reserves
The central bank tapped its gold reserves to steady the falling currency.
tap reserves (start using)
After the storm, the city had no fuel reserves left for the generators.
fuel reserves (specific noun + reserves)
- cash reserves
- foreign currency reserves
- gold reserves
- fuel reserves
- tap reserves
- debt
money owed rather than held
Grammar Patterns
[financial body] + reserves
in reserve
Usage Note
Almost always plural and almost always preceded by a specifying noun: 'cash reserves', 'foreign currency reserves', 'gold reserves', 'fuel reserves'. Distinguish from sense 2 — sense 3 is specifically liquid financial or fuel resources held for emergencies, not just any saved supply.
Common Mistakes
4. an area of countryside that the government or an organisation has fenced off and
an area of countryside that the government or an organisation has fenced off and keeps wild, so animals, birds, and plants can live there safely instead of being pushed out by farms or cities.
Ayesha photographed three rhinos at a game reserve in Kenya.
game reserve (collocation)
Volunteers plant young oak trees on the nature reserve every spring.
nature reserve (most common collocation)
Selim works as a ranger on a wildlife reserve outside Istanbul.
wildlife reserve (collocation)
The new road will cut through the eastern edge of the bird reserve.
[species] + reserve
- nature reserve
- wildlife reserve
- game reserve
- marine reserve
- bird reserve
Grammar Patterns
nature reserve
wildlife reserve
game reserve
Usage Note
Countable; usually appears with a modifier showing what is protected: 'nature reserve', 'wildlife reserve', 'game reserve', 'bird reserve', 'marine reserve'. Use the preposition 'on' or 'at' for a reserve as a place.
Common Mistakes
5. in Canada, a defined area of land that the federal government has set apart for
in Canada, a defined area of land that the federal government has set apart for one specific First Nations community to live on and govern under treaty.
Chidi spent the summer teaching at a school on the reserve north of Winnipeg.
on the reserve (preposition use)
Many young people leave the reserve for university but return to teach.
leave / return to the reserve
The reserve voted to build its own water treatment plant after years of warnings.
the reserve as collective subject
Ryo joined a documentary crew filming life on a small Cree reserve in Saskatchewan.
[nation] + reserve
- on the reserve
- leave the reserve
- Indian reserve (older official term)
- reservation
American English term for the same kind of area
Grammar Patterns
on a reserve
the reserve
Usage Note
Canadian English. Used with the preposition 'on' rather than 'in': 'on the reserve', 'on a reserve'. The American English equivalent is 'reservation'. Capitalise when part of an official name (e.g. 'Six Nations Reserve').
Common Mistakes
6. a sports player who waits on the bench during a match and only goes onto the fie
a sports player who waits on the bench during a match and only goes onto the field if a teammate gets hurt or starts to play badly.
Michael started the season as a reserve and ended up captain by April.
as a reserve (role)
Two reserves warmed up along the touchline during the second half.
plural: reserves on the bench
The coach brought on a reserve after the striker twisted his ankle.
bring on a reserve
Ari is the reserve goalkeeper for the under-18 team this year.
reserve + position noun
- reserve goalkeeper
- reserve striker
- bring on a reserve
- name as a reserve
- substitute
general term; covers any sport, more common in American English
- backup
informal; emphasises being ready to step in
- bench player
informal; describes anyone who normally sits on the bench
- starter
a player picked for the opening line-up
Grammar Patterns
a reserve
as a reserve
the reserve goalkeeper
Usage Note
Countable. Common British English term in football, rugby, and cricket; American English usually says 'substitute' or 'backup'. Often modifies a position word: 'reserve goalkeeper', 'reserve striker'.
Common Mistakes
7. in football, the squad of players ranked just below a club's main side, who play
in football, the squad of players ranked just below a club's main side, who play matches in their own league against the second-string sides of other clubs.
Tomás was dropped from the senior squad and sent to play for the reserves on Saturday.
play for the reserves
After two strong games for the reserves, Hassan earned a place on the first-team bench.
for the reserves
The reserves drew nil-nil with Liverpool at a quiet training-ground stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
Young academy graduates usually spend a season with the reserves before moving up to the main team.
with the reserves
- play for the reserves
- drop someone to the reserves
- captain of the reserves
- second team
more transparent everyday phrase
- reserve team
fuller form, often used in club names
- first team
the senior, top-level squad
Grammar Patterns
the reserves
play for the reserves
Usage Note
Almost always plural with 'the' (the reserves). Distinguish from sense 6 (an individual substitute player); this sense names the whole second-string team.
Common Mistakes
8. soldiers, sailors, or pilots who are not on full-time duty in a country's armed
soldiers, sailors, or pilots who are not on full-time duty in a country's armed forces but who can be brought in to fight or help during a war or other emergency.
Esme served eight years in the army reserves before training as a paramedic.
in the army reserves
The president called up the reserves after fighting broke out near the northern border.
call up the reserves
Members of the naval reserves report to base one weekend each month for training.
naval reserves
Joaquín joined the reserves so he could keep his civilian job and still serve his country.
join the reserves
- the army reserves
- call up the reserves
- join the reserves
- serve in the reserves
- reservists
the individual soldiers themselves
- auxiliary forces
broader, more formal term
- the National Guard
American equivalent at state level
- regular forces
full-time professional military
- active duty
currently serving full-time
Grammar Patterns
the reserves
in the reserves
call up the reserves
Usage Note
Frequently plural ('the reserves') and modified by a service name ('army/naval/air-force reserves'). The verb 'call up' is the standard collocation for activating them.
Common Mistakes
9. a feeling that holds you back from fully agreeing with, trusting, or approving o
a feeling that holds you back from fully agreeing with, trusting, or approving of someone or something, because part of you is unsure it is wise.
Rania accepted the job offer without reserve, certain it was the right move for her family.
without reserve
The committee approved the plan with some reserve, asking for a progress report in six months.
with some reserve
Despite a glowing résumé, the auditors still expressed reserve about the company's financial reports.
express reserve about + noun (cautious doubt)
Lakan voiced his reserve about lending the money, worried his cousin would not pay it back.
voice one's reserve about something
- without reserve
- with some reserve
- voice one's reserve
- express reserve about
- reservation
near-synonym, more common in plural ('reservations about')
- hesitation
focus on pausing before acting
- misgiving
stronger, suggests an uneasy feeling something will go wrong
- enthusiasm
eager, unqualified support
- wholehearted approval
agreement with no doubts attached
Grammar Patterns
have reservations about
without reserve
with some reserve
Usage Note
Often appears in fixed phrases 'without reserve' (= wholeheartedly) and 'with some reserve' (= cautiously). Distinct from sense 1 (the personality trait of being quiet); this is doubt about a specific decision or claim.
Common Mistakes
10. the smallest sum of money a seller is prepared to take for an item, especially o
the smallest sum of money a seller is prepared to take for an item, especially one going under the hammer; if no bid reaches this figure, the lot stays unsold.
Ingrid set a reserve of two thousand euros on her grandmother's antique writing desk.
set a reserve of [amount]
Bidding stopped at eight hundred pounds, well below the reserve, so the painting did not sell.
below the reserve
Christopher's bid finally met the reserve, and the auctioneer brought down the hammer at fifteen thousand dollars.
meet the reserve
Jessica listed the vintage motorbike online with no reserve, hoping a bidding war would push the price up.
no reserve = no minimum set
- set a reserve
- meet the reserve
- below the reserve
- no reserve
- reserve price
the full unambiguous term, common in formal listings
- minimum bid
everyday paraphrase, especially in online auctions
- floor price
broader business term, not limited to auctions
- no reserve
auction listing where any winning bid is accepted
Grammar Patterns
set a reserve
meet the reserve
below the reserve
Usage Note
Often appears as the fuller form 'reserve price'. Key collocations are 'set a reserve', 'meet/reach the reserve', and the auction-listing phrase 'no reserve' (= seller will accept any winning bid).
Common Mistakes
in reserve
idiomkept ready and not used yet, so that it can be brought out later if a problem appears or if extra help is needed.
Élise always keeps a clean shirt in reserve in her desk drawer for surprise meetings.
The general held two battalions in reserve behind the front line.
Word family
- reservationnounB1
- reservedadjectiveB2
- reservedlyadverbC2
- reservistnounC1
- reservoirnounB2
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/2
All four verbs are about fixing something for a future time, but they differ in scope and tone. 'Reserve' tells a provider to hold a specific resource — a seat, table, room, or ticket — so nobody else can claim it; it sounds slightly formal and commercial. 'Book' is the everyday British equivalent and is the natural choice in conversation: 'I booked a table at Luigi's.' 'Schedule' is broader and more abstract — you fix the time of an event, not a specific item; you schedule a meeting, not a chair. 'Arrange' is the most general and least committal: it covers planning the whole occasion, with no implication that anything physical is being held in your name. So you reserve a hotel room, book a flight, schedule the interview, and arrange the dinner party.
Common collocations
Nouns
- reserve fund
- reserve price
- reserve currency
- reserve bank
- nature reserve
- cash reserves
Adverbs
- reserve exclusively
- reserve specifically
- reserve permanently
Phrases
- reserve the right to
- hold something in reserve
- have reservations about
- call up the reserves
- draw on one's reserves
Prepositions
- reserve for (a person/purpose)
- in reserve
- without reserve
- with reserve
Etymology
The verb entered English in the late 1300s from Old French 'reserver', borrowed from Latin 'reservare', formed from 're-' (meaning 'back') and 'servare' (meaning 'to keep' or 'to guard'). The original idea was therefore 'to keep something back', and from this central image English later grew the modern senses of holding seats, storing supplies, and even the personality trait of keeping one's feelings to oneself.