Definitions
01to book in advance
A2 · Elementary
v. to arrange to have a seat, room, or table kept for you at a later time.
v. to engage or book a service or facility in advance to ensure availability.
日本語:予約する※
Español:reservar
“I would like to reserve a table for four people at seven o'clock tonight.”
“The travel agency advised us to reserve our accommodation months in advance to avoid the steep price increases during the peak summer season.”
Usage
Often used with 'for' to indicate the person or time.
Antonyms
02to keep for later
B1 · Intermediate
v. to keep something for a particular person or a special reason.
v. to set something aside for a specific purpose or person; to retain a right or power.
日本語:残す※
“The judge will reserve her decision until she has seen all the evidence.”
“The publisher reserves the right to edit any submitted manuscripts for length and clarity before they go to print.”
Usage
Common in legal contexts, especially in the phrase 'reserve the right'.
03extra supply
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Finance
n. a supply of something that is kept so that it can be used if it is needed.
n. a supply of a commodity or resource not needed for immediate use but available if required.
日本語:予備※
“The country has a large reserve of oil to use during emergencies.”
“The central bank increased its foreign currency reserves to protect the national economy against sudden market fluctuations.”
04protected area
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Science
n. an area of land where animals and plants are protected.
n. a tract of land managed so as to preserve its flora, fauna, and physical features.
“We spent the afternoon at the nature reserve watching the rare birds.”
“The government designated the coastal wetlands as a biological reserve to prevent industrial development from destroying the local ecosystem.”
05shy behaviour
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. a quality in someone's personality that makes them keep their feelings private.
n. a lack of openness or familiarity in manner; a tendency to be quiet and controlled.
“It took a long time to get to know him because of his natural reserve.”
“Despite her professional reserve, she was known among her close friends for her sharp wit and generous spirit.”
06substitute player
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Sports
n. a player who is available to replace another player if needed.
n. an extra player in a team who is ready to play if a regular player is injured or unavailable.
“He was disappointed to be named as a reserve for the championship match.”
“The coach decided to bring on two reserves during the second half to provide the team with fresh energy.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
07military force
B2 · Upper Intermediate Plural noun Military
n. soldiers who are not in the regular army but can be called to fight if needed.
n. a body of troops kept back from action to reinforce others or available for service in an emergency.
“The army called up the reserves when the conflict began to escalate.”
“After serving four years of active duty, he remained in the naval reserves while pursuing his university degree.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “reserve” in context.
Verb
01. reserve a table
“We should reserve a table for four at the Italian restaurant tonight.”
verb + noun
02. reserve judgment on the matter
“I will reserve judgment on the matter until I have seen all the evidence.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
03. reserve the right to
“The organizers reserve the right to change the schedule without notice.”
verb + noun + infinitive
Adjective
04. nature reserve
“The local nature reserve is home to several rare species of birds.”
noun + noun
05. vast gold reserves
“The country's economy is backed by vast gold reserves held in the central bank.”
adj + noun + noun
Noun
06. cash reserves
“The company used its cash reserves to survive the economic downturn.”
noun + noun
07. sense of reserve
“Despite his sense of reserve, he was a very warm and welcoming host.”
noun + of + noun
Preposition
08. in reserve
“The coach kept his best players in reserve for the final minutes of the game.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“That required reserving time on three large synchrotrons in Sweden, Switzerland, and France.” “A charity says the nature reserve will be a "very special thing" for the town once complete.” Etymology
From Old French reserver, from Latin reservō (“to reserve, retain”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Idioms
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/reserve
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0