reserved 1 of 2

Definition of reservednext

reserved

2 of 2

verb

past tense of reserve

Synonym Chooser

How is the word reserved distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of reserved are reticent, secretive, silent, and taciturn. While all these words mean "showing restraint in speaking," reserved implies reticence and suggests the restraining influence of caution or formality in checking easy informal conversational exchange.

greetings were brief, formal, and reserved

When could reticent be used to replace reserved?

While the synonyms reticent and reserved are close in meaning, reticent implies a reluctance to speak out or at length, especially about one's own affairs.

was reticent about his plans

When would secretive be a good substitute for reserved?

In some situations, the words secretive and reserved are roughly equivalent. However, secretive, too, implies reticence but usually carries a suggestion of deviousness and lack of frankness or of an often ostentatious will to conceal.

the secretive research and development division

When is it sensible to use silent instead of reserved?

The meanings of silent and reserved largely overlap; however, silent implies a habit of saying no more than is needed.

the strong, silent type

Where would taciturn be a reasonable alternative to reserved?

While in some cases nearly identical to reserved, taciturn implies a temperamental disinclination to speech and usually connotes unsociability.

taciturn villagers

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 reserved
Adjective
Customers can also order items to be brought to their vehicles, either at the front of the store or in a reserved parking spot. Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026 General admission is $31, or pay $75 for VIP admission with reserved seating and a postshow meet-and-greet. Travis Pinson, Dallas Morning News, 19 Jan. 2026
Verb
Polls show that most Americans believe that lengthy prison terms, which are costly to taxpayers, should be reserved for violent and hardened repeat offenders. Kevin Krause, Dallas Morning News, 6 Jan. 2026 That score is reserved for unsweetened, steel-cut or rolled oats. Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 6 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reserved
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reserved
Adjective
  • The 55-acre lot, once a silent-era movie site and later home to productions like Gilligan’s Island and Seinfeld, will be returned to lenders led by Goldman following months of unsuccessful modification talks.
    Charlie Fink, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
  • The Clippers responded with a 10-0 run to open a 103-91 lead as Doncic went silent, finishing the night with just three points in the final quarter.
    Janis Carr, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • He was booked for murder at the Robert Presley Detention Center.
    Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 25 Jan. 2026
  • SmackDown’s General Manager Nick Aldis booked a mini-tournament featuring a quartet of singles matches, with the winners of those bouts earning the right to compete in a Fatal 4-Way to determine who would face McIntyre for the WWE Championship at the 2026 Royal Rumble.
    Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The university subsequently retained the law firm Perkins Coie to conduct an independent investigation.
    Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 26 Jan. 2026
  • Data is collected deliberately, retained indefinitely, enriched with other datasets and analyzed by increasingly powerful AI systems.
    Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Glenna Goldis, an attorney who has dedicated her 15-year career to practicing public interest law, was terminated last Thursday from the office’s Consumer Frauds and Protection Bureau following a monthslong battle with the employee ethics committee.
    Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 31 Jan. 2026
  • For the trip, Flavia and Felicia flew with LATAM Airlines and stayed at the Virgin Hotel New York — two brands that have dedicated themselves to this program.
    Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • However, the impact of losing her great love in a 1990 racing accident translated into a sober and restrained closet.
    Marta Martínez Tato, Vanity Fair, 24 Jan. 2026
  • Grapes here develop with higher acidity and lower sugar levels, which leads to wines that feel more restrained and layered.
    Emily Price, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • After evening fell, a somber, sorrowful crowd in the hundreds kept a vigil by the memorial.
    Jack Brook, Twin Cities, 25 Jan. 2026
  • Those kept the Celtics within striking distance amid a deluge of 3-pointers from the hot-shooting Bulls, who made their first six of the final quarter.
    Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 25 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Supporters of Pahlavi were particularly vocal in Mashhad this month, as attested by the prevalence of pro-monarchy graffiti on city walls, and the regime’s propaganda devoted particular attention to discrediting the former crown prince.
    Davood Moradian, The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2026
  • In 2019, Carlson devoted an eleven-minute monologue to the woes of Sidney, Nebraska, which had once thrived as the headquarters of the sporting-goods chain Cabela’s.
    Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Okay, there's trying something new and then there's just being dumb.
    Samantha Highfill, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Why portray Dorothy as a doe-eyed ding-a-ling; as not just naive but dumb?
    Lili Anolik, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Reserved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reserved. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

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