reserve
- 01 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.
Simple“I would like to reserve a table for four people at seven o'clock tonight.”
In context“The travel agency advised us to reserve our accommodation months in advance to avoid the steep price increases during the peak summer season.”
UsageOften used with 'for' to indicate the person or time.
- 02 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.
Simple“The judge will reserve her decision until she has seen all the evidence.”
In context“The publisher reserves the right to edit any submitted manuscripts for length and clarity before they go to print.”
UsageCommon in legal contexts, especially in the phrase 'reserve the right'.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
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.
Simple“The country has a large reserve of oil to use during emergencies.”
In context“The central bank increased its foreign currency reserves to protect the national economy against sudden market fluctuations.”
- 04 B1 Intermediate
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.
Simple“We spent the afternoon at the nature reserve watching the rare birds.”
In context“The government designated the coastal wetlands as a biological reserve to prevent industrial development from destroying the local ecosystem.”
- 05 C1 Advanced
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.
Simple“It took a long time to get to know him because of his natural reserve.”
In context“Despite her professional reserve, she was known among her close friends for her sharp wit and generous spirit.”
- 06 B1 Intermediate
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.
Simple“He was disappointed to be named as a reserve for the championship match.”
In context“The coach decided to bring on two reserves during the second half to provide the team with fresh energy.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 07 B2 Upper Intermediate
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.
Simple“The army called up the reserves when the conflict began to escalate.”
In context“After serving four years of active duty, he remained in the naval reserves while pursuing his university degree.”
Synonyms
“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.”
From Old French reserver, from Latin reservō (“to reserve, retain”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.