reserve
gb/ɹɪzˈɚv/ us/ɹɪzˈɚv/
A2
English
~ 2800
Senses
0 senses
Verb
A2
action
1
Arrange in advance for future use
To ask for something to be kept for you to use later.
Usage pattern:
to reserve [something] [for someone/for a time]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'reserve' with 'preserve'. 'Reserve' means to arrange to have something later; 'preserve' means to keep something from being damaged or lost.
Synonyms
book (Common in British English, especially for travel and events.)
Antonyms
cancel (To remove a prior arrangement or booking.)
Collocations
reserve a table
|reserve a seat
|reserve a room
|reserve tickets
Themes
daily life
|business
|travel
|daily_life
Examples
- I reserved a table for two at the new Italian restaurant.
- You should reserve your tickets online before they sell out.
- She reserved a conference room for the meeting next week.
Learner examples
- I reserved a seat on the bus.
- We reserved a room at the hotel.
- He reserved a table for dinner.
Noun
B1
entity
2
Supply kept for later use
A supply of something kept to be used later.
Synonyms
stockpile (Often used for large quantities gathered and stored, sometimes with a military or emergency context.)
Antonyms
shortage (A lack of needed resources, opposite of having reserves.)
Collocations
oil reserves
|foreign currency reserves
|food reserves
Themes
business
|resources
|emergency
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The country has large reserves of natural gas.
- We need to keep some money in reserve for emergencies.
- The army tapped into its food reserves during the crisis.
Learner examples
- The bank has gold reserves.
- We keep water reserves for emergencies.
- The country has oil reserves.
Noun
B1
entity
3
Protected land area
Land kept for animals, plants, or people to use in a special way.
Synonyms
sanctuary (Often used for protected areas specifically for animals or plants.)
Antonyms
developed land (Land used for buildings and industry instead of being preserved.)
Collocations
nature reserve
|wildlife reserve
|game reserve
Themes
environment
|travel
|nature
|law
Examples
- The wildlife reserve is home to many endangered species.
- We visited a bird reserve near the coast.
- The government created a new nature reserve to protect the forest.
Learner examples
- We went to the nature reserve.
- The animals live in the reserve.
- The park is a big reserve for birds.
Verb
B2
action
4
Hold back for future use
To keep something so you can use it later or for a special reason.
Usage pattern:
to reserve [something] [for someone/for purpose]
Synonyms
set aside (Informal, often used about time or money kept for a specific purpose.)
Antonyms
use up (To consume something completely without keeping any part of it back.)
Collocations
reserve judgment
|reserve funds
|reserve time
Themes
daily life
|business
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I always reserve some energy for the final lap.
- Please reserve your comments until the end of the presentation.
- They reserved part of the budget for unexpected expenses.
Learner examples
- I reserve some money each month.
- Please reserve food for our guests.
- We reserve time for family on Sundays.
Noun
B2
property
5
Emotional restraint or formality
Not showing your feelings or thoughts easily.
Synonyms
restraint (More formal; emphasizes self-control over emotions or actions.)
Antonyms
openness (Willingness to share feelings and thoughts freely.)
Collocations
show reserve
|with reserve
|natural reserve
Themes
emotions
|personality
|communication
Examples
- Her natural reserve made it hard to get to know her.
- He greeted us with polite reserve.
- Despite his reserve, he was very kind.
Learner examples
- She speaks with reserve.
- He shows reserve in meetings.
- Her reserve makes her seem quiet.
Grammar
Dictionary form
reserve
IPA
GB/ɹɪzˈɚv/
US/ɹɪzˈɚv/
Syllables & stress
re - serve (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (serve)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: reserve
- Plural: reserve, reserves
Verb
- Base: reserve
- 3rd Person Singular: reserves
- Present Participle: reserving
- Past: reserved
Word family
Forms
reserves
noun
reserving
verb
reserved
verb
Core family
reservation
noun A2
Related words
reservable
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
unreserved
adjective
Advanced or less common
reservist
noun
unreservedly
adverb
Expressions
in reserve
1/ˈɪn ɹɪzˈɚv/
fixed phrase
Kept aside for later use
Kept to be used later if needed.
Examples
- We still have some supplies in reserve in case of emergency.
- The coach kept his best player in reserve until the second half.
reserve the right (to)
1/ɹɪzˈɚv ðə ɹˈaɪt tə/
fixed phrase
formal
Keep authority to decide later
To say you may decide something later if you want to.
Examples
- The company reserves the right to change the terms at any time.
- I reserve the right to refuse service if necessary.
with (some) reserve
1/wˈɪθ sˈʌm ɹɪzˈɚv/
fixed phrase
Showing caution or restraint
In a careful way, not fully open or certain.
Examples
- She accepted the proposal with some reserve.
- He greeted me warmly but with visible reserve.