Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense reserves, present participle reserving, past tense, past participle reserved
1. verb [usually passive]
If something is reservedfor a particular person or purpose, it is kept specially for that person or purpose.
A double room with a balcony overlooking the sea had been reserved for him. [beVERB-ed + for]
In the United States lanes are reserved for cars with more than one occupant. [beV-ed for n]
2. verb
If you reserve something such as a table, ticket, or magazine, you arrange for it to be kept specially for you, rather than sold or given to someoneelse.
I'll reserve a table for five. [VERB noun]
Demand will be huge, so ask your newsagent to reserve your copy today. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: book, arrange in advance, make a reservation for, prearrange More Synonyms of reserve
3. countable noun
A reserve is a supply of something that is available for use when it is needed.
The Gulf has 65 per cent of the world's oil reserves.
A friend can be a reserve of help in times of trouble.
4. countable noun
In sports, a reserve is someone who is available to play as part of a team if one of the members is ill or cannot play.
[mainly British]
He ended up as a reserve, but still qualified for a team gold medal.
regional note: in AM, use substitute
5. countable noun
A nature reserve is an area of land where the animals, birds, and plants are officially protected.
Marine biologists are calling for Cardigan Bay to be created a marine nature reserveto protect the dolphins.
6. uncountable noun
If someone shows reserve, they keep their feelings hidden.
The subject is one which must be discussed with reserve.
His natural reserve made him appear self-conscious.
7.
See in reserve
8. countable noun
A military reserve is a group of soldiers who are ready to join a military operation if they are needed.
9. to reserve judgment
10. to reserve the right
More Synonyms of reserve
reserve in British English
(rɪˈzɜːv)
verb(transitive)
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
noun
5.
a.
something kept back or set aside, esp for future use or contingency
b.
(as modifier)
a reserve stock
6.
the state or condition of being reserved
I have plenty in reserve
7.
a tract of land set aside for the protection and conservation of wild animals, flowers, etc
a nature reserve
8. Canadian
an area of land set aside, esp for indigenous peoples
9. Australian and New Zealand
an area of publicly owned land set aside for sport, recreation, etc
10.
the act of reserving; reservation
11.
a member of a team who only plays if a playing member drops out; a substitute
12. (often plural)
a.
a part of an army or formation not committed to immediate action in a military engagement
b.
that part of a nation's armed services not in active service
13.
coolness or formality of manner; restraint, silence, or reticence
14. finance
a.
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
b. (often plural)
liquid assets held by an organization, government, etc, to meet expenses and liabilities
15. without reserve
Derived forms
reservable (reˈservable)
adjective
reserver (reˈserver)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Old French reserver, from Latin reservāre to save up, from re- + servāre to keep
reserve in American English
(rɪˈzɜrv)
verb transitiveWord forms: reˈserved or reˈserving
1.
to keep back, store up, or set apart for later use or for some special purpose
2.
to hold over to a later time
3.
to set aside or have set aside for a special person, etc.
to reserve a theater seat
4.
to keep back or retain for oneself
to reserve the right to refuse
noun
5.
something kept back or stored up, as for later use or for a special purpose
6.
a limitation or reservation
now rare except in without reserve (see phrase below)
7.
the practice of keeping one's thoughts, feelings, etc. to oneself; self-restraint or aloofness in speech and manner
8.
reticence; silence
9.
restraint and control in artistic expression; freedom from exaggeration or extravagance
10. [pl.]
a.
available participants kept out of action for use in an emergency or for replacing active groups or units, as in sports or warfare
b.
personnel or units in the armed forces not on active duty but subject to call; militia
with the
11.
cash, or assets readily turned into cash, held out of use by a bank, insurance company, or business to meet expected or unexpected demands
see also legal reserve
12. US
land set apart for a special purpose
a forest reserve
adjective
13.
being, or having the nature of, a reserve or reserves
a reserve supply
Idioms:
in reserve
without reserve
Word origin
ME reserven < OFr reserver < L reservare < re-, back + servare: see observe
reserve in Finance
(rɪzɜrv)
Word forms: (regular plural) reserves
noun
(Finance: Banking)
Reserve is the amount of money banks must have available to cover deposits.
Legal reserve is the amount of money a bank or insurance company must keep to cover future claimsand losses.
If you ensure that financial institutions have access to short-term credit, you encouragethem to make loans rather than hoard reserves.
Reserve is the amount of money banks must have available to cover deposits.
reserve in Accounting
(rɪzɜrv)
Word forms: (regular plural) reserves
noun
(Accounting: Basic)
A reserve is money that has been set aside for future expected expenses.
Legal reserve is the amount of money a bank or insurance company must keep to cover future claimsand losses.
Banks borrow from each other, if necessary, to keep average daily reserves over a two-week period at certain minimum levels.
A reserve is money that has been set aside for future expected expenses.
Examples of 'reserve' in a sentence
reserve
Now there are many popular nature reserves that have muddy islands out in front of a hide.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They need a less onerous capital reserves regime.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They are usually reserved for people making a fortune or just doing their jobs giving away our money.
The Sun (2017)
This furry five climbed trees at the nature reserve where they live and curled up for a kip.
The Sun (2016)
They sent out an email appeal saying at least half its team of four plus one reserve should not be men.
The Sun (2016)
It was lunchtime and they'd reserved a table for me.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The central bank has used about half its foreign reserves since 2011 to prop up the pound and implemented strict restrictions on hard currency.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I didn't want another season in the reserves or just playing cup games.
The Sun (2017)
Montevideo had few police reserves available for a chase.
Geraghty, Tony The Bullet Catchers (1989)
Which means you need to reserve them in advance.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
But he clearly knew that this same reserve is full of dramatic potential.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Very few survive outside of natural parks and reserves.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Due to play for the reserves next week after two months out with an ankle injury.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Only in two relatively small areas are nature reserves to be established.
Cloke, Paul J (ed) Rural Land-Use Planning in Developed Nations (1989)
One team fielded their reserves and could not wait to get knocked out of the competition.
The Sun (2015)
The seat reserved for him was empty.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We saved almost all of our special dividends to put back into reserves.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But the regime has refused to release its dwindling foreign currency reserves to replenish drug stocks.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
So they are increasing bank reserve requirements and reducing the availability ofcredit.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They are being told to hoard reserve capital and shrink their balance sheets like other banks.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We have tables reserved in the beer garden.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He suggests a booking system so cubicles can be reserved in advance.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The senior lecturer grade used to be reserved principally for this purpose but is now awarded frequently to reward research output.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
And why should people be allowed to reserve themselves an eternal berth in a council cemetery for a few hundred pounds?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Keep a contingency fund in reserve.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Will the offshore reserves be used?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Employment law has also taken into account the government's drive to increase the military reserveforces.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Teenage behaviour is best reserved for one 's thirties and forties.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
A limited reserve force is available should ground troops be required.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
This little reserve is full of rare and unusual flowers and is probably the richest meadow in the Midlands.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Enjoy a beautiful autumnal walk through this nature reserve and keep an eye out for wildlife as you try your hand at some woodland conservation.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
reserve
British English: reserve /rɪˈzɜːv/ NOUN
supply A reserve is a supply of something that is available for use when needed.
...the world's oil reserves.
American English: reserve retention
Arabic: اِحْتيَاطِيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: reserva
Chinese: 储备
Croatian: rezerva
Czech: rezerva zásoba
Danish: reserve
Dutch: reserve vasthouden
European Spanish: reserva retención
Finnish: vara
French: réserve sport
German: Reserve
Greek: απόθεμα
Italian: riserva
Japanese: 蓄え retention
Korean: 보유
Norwegian: reserve
Polish: powściągliwość wstrzymanie
European Portuguese: reserva
Romanian: rezervă
Russian: запас
Latin American Spanish: reserva acopio
Swedish: boka
Thai: การสำรอง
Turkish: yedek
Ukrainian: запас
Vietnamese: nguồn dự trữ
British English: reserve /rɪˈzɜːv/ NOUN
nature A nature reserve is an area of land where animals, birds, and plants are officially protected.
...a marine nature reserve
American English: preserve land
Arabic: مِنْطَقَةٌ لا يـُمْكِنُ الصَيْدُ فيها
Brazilian Portuguese: reserva de terra
Chinese: 自然保护区
Croatian: rezervat
Czech: rezervace přírodní
Danish: reservat
Dutch: reservaat
European Spanish: reserva tierra
Finnish: suojelualue
French: réserve terrain
German: Reservat
Greek: καταφύγιο άγριας ζωής
Italian: riserva
Japanese: 保護区 land
Korean: 보호구역
Norwegian: reservat
Polish: rezerwat ziemia
European Portuguese: reserva natural
Romanian: rezervație
Russian: заповедник
Latin American Spanish: reserva resguardo
Swedish: reservat
Thai: เขตสงวน
Turkish: koruma alanı
Ukrainian: заповідник
Vietnamese: khu bảo tồn
British English: reserve /rɪˈzɜːv/ VERB
If something is reserved for a particular person or purpose, it is kept specially for that person or purpose.
A double room has been reserved for him.
American English: reserve
Arabic: يَحْجِزُ
Brazilian Portuguese: reservar guardar para depois
Chinese: 保留
Croatian: rezervirati
Czech: šetřit (si) na později
Danish: reservere
Dutch: reserveren
European Spanish: reservar guardar
Finnish: pitää itsellään
French: réserver
German: reservieren
Greek: διαφυλάσσω
Italian: prenotare
Japanese: 取っておく
Korean: 예약하다
Norwegian: reservere
Polish: zarezerwować
European Portuguese: reservar
Romanian: a rezerva
Russian: запасать
Latin American Spanish: reservar ocultar, callar algo
Swedish: reservera
Thai: สำรอง
Turkish: saklamak korumak
Ukrainian: заощаджувати
Vietnamese: dự trữ
All related terms of 'reserve'
re-serve
to serve again
in reserve
If you have something in reserve , you have it available for use when it is needed .
off-reserve
located on or living in a place that is not part of a designated reserve
game reserve
A game reserve is a large area of land, especially in Africa, where wild animals can live safely.
gold reserve
the gold reserved by a central bank to support domestic credit expansion , to cover balance of payments deficits , and to protect currency
legal reserve
the funds that a bank , insurance company, etc. is required by law to maintain as reserves
reserve bank
one of the twelve banks forming part of the US Federal Reserve System
reserve-grade
denoting a sporting team of the second rank in a club
reserve list
a list of retired naval , army, or air-force officers available for recall to active service in an emergency
reserve price
A reserve price is the lowest price which is acceptable to the owner of property being auctioned or sold.
reserve tank
the tank or part of a tank in a car engine that reserves fuel in case the main fuel supply runs out
reserve team
a second team of a sports club , such as a football club, made up of emerging and young players
central reserve
the strip, often covered with grass, that separates the two sides of a motorway or dual carriageway
Federal Reserve
In the United States , the Federal Reserve is the central banking system, which is responsible for setting policy on monetary matters such as money supply and interest rates .
Indian reserve
the act or an instance of reserving
nature reserve
an area of land that is protected and managed in order to preserve a particular type of habitat and its flora and fauna which are often rare or endangered
reserve clause
a condition in the contracts of professional baseball players, allowing team owners to extend expired contracts for one additional year
reserve player
a member of a sports team who plays in place of another player if they are injured , etc
reserve tranche
the quota of 25 per cent to which a member of the IMF has unconditional access . Prior to 1978 it was paid in gold and known as the gold tranche
scenic reserve
an area of natural beauty , set aside for public recreation
Western Reserve
section of the Northwest Territory, on Lake Erie : reserved by Conn. for settlers when its other W lands were ceded to the federal government in 1786: incorporated into the Ohio territory in 1800
without reserve
without reservations ; fully; wholeheartedly
reserve a room
If you reserve a room at a hotel , you keep it for a person who is going to arrive on an agreed date.
reserve currency
foreign currency that is acceptable as a medium of international payments and that is therefore held in reserve by many countries
contingency reserve
a sum of money set aside for use in an emergency or to cover unforeseen expenses
Federal Reserve Bank
the bank operating under the Federal Reserve Board that regulates banks within a Federal Reserve District
Federal Reserve note
a bank note issued by the Federal Reserve Banks and now serving as the prevailing paper currency in circulation in the US
reserve petrol tank
the tank or part of a tank in a car engine that reserves fuel in case the main fuel supply runs out
Royal Naval Reserve
→ the Royal Naval Reserve
to reserve judgment
If you reserve judgment on something, you refuse to give an opinion about it until you know more about it.
Federal Reserve System
(in the US) a banking system consisting of twelve Federal Reserve Districts , each containing member banks regulated and served by a Federal Reserve Bank . It operates under the supervision of the Federal Reserve Board and performs functions similar to those of the Bank of England
to reserve the right
If you say that you reserve the right to do something, you mean that you will do it if you feel that it is necessary .
off-balance sheet reserve
a sum of money or an asset that should appear on a company's balance but does not; hidden reserve
the Royal Naval Reserve
the volunteer reserve force of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom
gold tranche
the quota of 25 per cent to which a member of the IMF has unconditional access . Prior to 1978 it was paid in gold and known as the gold tranche
median
The median value of a set of values is the middle one when they are arranged in order. For example , if a group of five students take a test and their marks are 5, 7, 7, 8, and 10, the median mark is 7.
Territorial and Volunteer Reserve
(in Britain) a standing reserve army originally organized between 1907 and 1908
FRB
Federal Reserve Board : the government-appointed board that runs the Federal Reserve Bank and sets interest rates
floor price
a minimum price required of an item being auctioned
re
You use re in business letters , faxes , or other documents to introduce a subject or item which you are going to discuss or refer to in detail .
Fedwire
The Fedwire is an electronic system for transferring large sums of money and securities between banks .