reservation
- 01 A2 Elementary
an arrangement you make to have a seat, room, or table kept for you at a specific time.
an arrangement by which accommodation, transport, or services are secured in advance.
Simple“I called the restaurant to make a reservation for four people at 7:00 PM.”
In context“The hotel manager confirmed that our reservation included a complimentary breakfast and access to the executive lounge throughout our stay.”
PitfallI made a reservation of a table. I made a reservation for a table.Use the preposition 'for' when specifying what the reservation is intended to secure.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a feeling of doubt about whether something is right or true.
a limiting qualification or a sense of doubt regarding a proposal, person, or statement.
Simple“I have some reservations about his plan because it seems too expensive.”
In context“While the board approved the merger in principle, several members expressed serious reservations regarding the long-term debt obligations.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 B1 Intermediate
an area of land kept separate for a particular group of people to live on.
a tract of land set apart by a government for the use of a specific indigenous population.
Simple“The museum teaches visitors about the history of the people living on the reservation.”
In context“The tribal council met to discuss water rights and land management policies within the boundaries of the reservation.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
the strip of land or barrier that separates two sides of a major road.
the area of land or a physical barrier separating opposing lanes of traffic on a dual carriageway or motorway.
Simple“The car crashed into the central reservation after the tyre burst.”
In context“Maintenance crews were deployed to repair the safety barriers along the central reservation following the multi-vehicle accident on the M4.”
Synonymsmediancentral reservation - 05 C1 Advanced
a system where a certain number of jobs or school places are kept for specific groups of people.
the policy of setting aside a percentage of positions in government or education for underrepresented communities.
Simple“The government discussed new reservation policies for university admissions.”
In context“The supreme court reviewed the constitutionality of the reservation system intended to support historically disadvantaged castes in the civil service.”
UsageCommonly used in Indian English in the context of social justice and government policy.
Teacher's tipThis sense is specific to Indian English; in other regions, terms like 'affirmative action' or 'quotas' are more common.
Synonymsquotaaffirmative action
From Middle French reservation, equivalent to reserve + -ation.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.