26984 words

reserve

25 definitions • 39 examples
1
to keep something for a particular purpose or time:

Examples:

I reserve Mondays for tidying my desk and answering letters.
These seats are reserved for the elderly and women with babies.
I reserve judgment on this issue (= I won't give an opinion on it now) until we have more information.
2
If you reserve something such as a seat on an aircraft or a table at a restaurant, you arrange for it to be kept for your use:

Examples:

I reserved a double room at the Lamb Hotel.
[ + two objects ] If you get there early, reserve me a seat/reserve a seat for me.
3
the habit of not showing your feelings or thoughts:

Examples:

I took her out for a drink and tried to break through her reserve.
4
the act of keeping something or a supply of something until it is needed, or a supply that you keep:

Examples:

She keeps a little money in reserve (= for use if and when needed).
The librarian has put the book on reserve for me (= will keep it for me when it becomes available).
We still have a reserve of food/food reserves in case of emergency.
5
a supply of something such as money or fuel that you are not using, but that is available if you need it:

Examples:

Cash reserves on June 30 stood at about £950 million, giving them some protection against future shocks.
Maybe, when the Earth's oil reserves finally run dry, we'll all get back on our bikes.
6
an area of land kept in its natural state, especially for wild animals to live in and be protected:

Examples:

a nature/game/wildlife reserve
7
in sports, an extra player who is ready to play if needed:

Examples:

We had two reserves in case anyone was injured.
8
a football team consisting of players who are not in the first team, but who play in a league against reserve teams from other clubs:

Examples:

Frank was a prolific scorer for the reserves before he graduated to the first team.
9
a group of people who are not permanently in the armed forces but are used only if needed:

Examples:

call up the reserves They will call up the reserves.
10
a feeling of doubt about someone or something:

Examples:

I can recommend him to you without reserve.
11
the lowest amount of money the owners will accept for something being sold, especially at auction (= public sale):

Examples:

A rare Stradivarius violin failed to reach its reserve price (= no one offered to pay it) when put up for auction on Tuesday.
We set/put a reserve of €500 on the picture.
12
to keep something for a particular purpose or time:

Examples:

[ T ] He reserved the right to veto any future plans.
13
If you reserve something such as a table in a restaurant or a room in a hotel, you arrange for it to be kept for your use at a later time:

Examples:

[ I ] It’s a popular restaurant, and you’ll have to reserve well in advance.
[ T ] I’m sorry, this seat is reserved.
14
something kept for a particular purpose or time, or the state of being kept for future use by someone:

Examples:

[ C ] I have a reserve of food in case of emergency.
[ U ] The book is on reserve and can’t be checked out.
She keeps a little money in reserve (= for use if and when needed).
15
A reserve (also (also preserve)) is also an area of land kept for the protection of animals and plants:

Examples:

[ C ] a nature/game reserve
16
The reserves are a part of a country’s armed forces that are not always on active duty but are available in an emergency.
17
to keep something for a particular purpose or time:

Examples:

reserve sth for sb/sth The plan would reserve $1 billion for "long-term capacity improvements".
18
to arrange for something to be kept for you, for example, a seat on an aircraft or a table at a restaurant:

Examples:

He's reserved a table for 8pm.
19
to state, especially in a written agreement, that you may change something in the future:

Examples:

I reserve the right to disagree to any future changes in the company structure.
20
to not decide on something immediately:

Examples:

I thought I'd reserve judgement until he'd finished his presentation.
21
a supply of something that you have available to use if you need to:

Examples:

You will need a reasonable reserve of cash to start the process.
22
kept in order to use later if needed:

Examples:

They do not have money in reserve like many of the bigger companies.
Land should be kept in reserve at the airport for a second runway which could be built by the mid-2020s.
23
the lowest amount of money that the owner will accept for something that is being sold, especially at an auction:

Examples:

I set the reserve price at $50 in the hope that it would sell for much more.
24
the amount of foreign currency or gold that a central bank has at a particular time:

Examples:

It has around 8bn dollars in foreign currency reserves.
25
money kept by a company for a particular use, for example, a future project or emergency:

Examples:

use/dip into reserves It became necessary for the company to dip into its reserves.
cash/money reserves

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