# booking

/ˈbʊkɪŋ/ (US) · /bˈʊkɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/booking
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a reservation

noun · CEFR A2

an arrangement you make to have a room, seat, or table at a specific time.

For teachers: a reservation for a service, typically in travel, hospitality, or dining.

- We have a booking for a double room under the name Smith.
- The hotel manager confirmed that the booking had been made online several months in advance to secure the lower seasonal rate.

### 2. a performance

noun · CEFR B2

an agreement for a performer or band to play at a show.

For teachers: the formal engagement of a performer or artist for a specific event or production.

- The band has a booking at the local jazz club this Friday night.
- Securing a booking at such a prestigious venue was a significant milestone for the young comedian's career.

### 3. sports penalty

noun · CEFR B1 · British English

when a referee writes a player's name in a book to give them a yellow card.

For teachers: the formal recording of a player's name by a referee for a foul, typically resulting in a yellow card.

- The defender received a booking for a late tackle in the second half.
- After his second booking of the match, the captain was shown a red card and forced to leave the pitch.

### 4. police record

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

the process of recording a person's details after they are arrested.

For teachers: the administrative process of recording the identity, fingerprints, and photographs of a suspect following an arrest.

- The suspect was taken to the station for booking and questioning.
- The booking process took several hours as the officers had to verify the suspect's identity against multiple federal databases.

## Examples

- I have a hotel booking for next Friday.
- The restaurant was so popular that we had to make a booking three weeks in advance to get a table.
- The travel agency confirmed that your booking includes both the round-trip flight and a three-night stay at a boutique hotel in the city center.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.