reserve 1 of 2

noun

Definition of reservenext
1
as in restraint
the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others the salesclerk showed great reserve in dealing with the unreasonable demands of the angry customer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in supply
a collection of things kept available for future use or need our fuel reserves are low

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in substitute
a person or thing that takes the place of another when the first brigade fell back in retreat, the commander sent out the reserves to try to hold the line of battle

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in spare
an interchangeable part or piece of equipment that is kept on hand for replacement of an original don't throw that extra bike chain away, as I want to keep it as a reserve in case the current one breaks

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

reserve

2 of 2

verb

ri-ˈzərv How to pronounce reserve (audio)
1
as in to book
to arrange to have something (as a hotel room) held for one's future use we made sure to reserve a kennel for our dog several months before the start of the family vacation

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to retain
to continue to have in one's possession or power I'm reserving the right to work by myself if you don't do your share of the project

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to dedicate
to keep or intend for a special purpose we must reserve this cup for ceremonial use only

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word reserve distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of reserve are detain, keep, retain, and withhold. While all these words mean "to hold in one's possession or under one's control," reserve suggests a keeping in store for future use.

reserve some of your energy for the last mile

Where would detain be a reasonable alternative to reserve?

While the synonyms detain and reserve are close in meaning, detain suggests a delay in letting go.

detained them for questioning

When could keep be used to replace reserve?

The meanings of keep and reserve largely overlap; however, keep may suggest a holding securely in one's possession, custody, or control.

keep this while I'm gone

When might retain be a better fit than reserve?

In some situations, the words retain and reserve are roughly equivalent. However, retain implies continued keeping, especially against threatened seizure or forced loss.

managed to retain their dignity even in poverty

When can withhold be used instead of reserve?

The words withhold and reserve are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, withhold implies restraint in letting go or a refusal to let go.

withheld information from the authorities

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of reserve
Noun
On Wednesday, Cuban Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy told state media the country had run out of fuel oil and diesel, and had no reserves. —Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 15 May 2026 Robotic moon rovers that are equipped with spectrometers and drills will be key to such studies, investigating helium-3 reserves both at and just beneath the lunar surface. —Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 14 May 2026
Verb
Guests can reserve a time to make their own art too and choose to make a traditional, glow-in-the-dark, or pumpkin ornament. —Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 13 May 2026 In fact, the most impressive spaces are often the least accessible, typically reserved for international premium-cabin passengers. —Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 13 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for reserve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reserve
  1. restraint
  2. supply
  3. substitute
  4. spare
  5. book
  6. retain
  7. dedicate
  8. discipline
Noun
  • Told with exacting restraint yet as layered as the lacquer on an ebony Biedermeier console, this forms a loose triptych with Pawlikowski’s last two features, Ida and Cold War, both of which were set at least partly behind the Iron Curtain.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
  • For the Dior cruise show in Los Angeles, Peter Philips treated glow with the restraint of good lighting.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 14 May 2026
Definition of restraint
Noun
  • On the Democratic side, Jesse Brewer, a former area manager for 7-Eleven locations, is running against Melissa Strange, a supply-chain director for an agribusiness company.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 19 May 2026
  • Analysts say the reason global markets were not immediately hit by the full impact of disruptions to Middle Eastern crude supplies is that commercial inventories, government strategic reserves, and tankers already at sea have acted as buffers.
    — , CNBC, 18 May 2026
Definition of supply
Noun
  • In the 65th minute, second-half substitute Pablo miscontrolled El Hadji Malick Diouf’s quick throw-in.
    — Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 18 May 2026
  • Basic income cash transfers are not a good substitute for basic services in a social support system.
    — Carrie Brandon Elliot, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Definition of substitute
Noun
  • White House officials defended the arrangement, arguing that donor anonymity is standard practice for major projects and that using private funds spares taxpayers.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
  • Keeping a spare in your carry-on is a small habit that can prevent a major bummer on your trip.
    — Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 18 Apr. 2026
Definition of spare
Verb
  • This one-stop shop luxury startup is one of India’s fastest-growing ultra-premium mobility and lifestyle brands for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, built around the idea that luxury transportation should be as accessible as booking a hotel room online.
    — Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
  • Tustin detectives took Marquez into custody and booked him into the Orange County Jail on a murder charge.
    — Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026
Definition of book
Verb
  • Lio Rush to retain the Ring of Honor World TV Championship.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
  • The city even wants to use bricks instead of asphalt to retain the area's image.
    — Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 16 May 2026
Definition of retain
Verb
  • Schools implementing bell-to-bell ban policies to limit or eliminating multitasking during school hours and dedicating instructional time to media literacy.
    — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 20 May 2026
  • Her view echoes a recent Deloitte report on AI governance, which found while most firms have dedicated risk management experts, boards still lack the AI fluency needed to oversee the threats the technology poses to their organizations.
    — Jake Angelo, Fortune, 20 May 2026
Definition of dedicate
Noun
  • Since the turn of the century, California’s state budget has been plagued by a boom-and-bust syndrome rooted in its lopsided revenue system and a lack of political discipline.
    — Dan Walters, Mercury News, 19 May 2026
  • The league constitution is a contract between teams, owners and the league that details league authority over teams, including with respect to ownership, relocation, discipline and territorial rights.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 19 May 2026
Definition of discipline

Browse Nearby Words

reservations
reserve
reserved
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Reserve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reserve. Accessed 22 May. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on reserve

Nglish: Translation of reserve for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of fraught

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

Regarding the Incorrect Use of 'Decimate'

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Strange Words for Body Functions

Where does 'curiosity killed the cat' come from?

What to Call the Inept, Incompetent, and Inferior

The Words of the Week - May 22

Insults and Compliments from Recent Slang
See More

Popular

See More

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

Strange Words for Body Functions

Where does 'curiosity killed the cat' come from?
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
puzzle-piece-road
Missing Link Quiz May 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All