verb
reserve
rih-ZURV
verb
1
To book or set something aside in advance for later use.
"Please reserve two seats near the front."
"They reserved the conference room for the whole afternoon."
noun
1
A supply of something kept back for future use, such as money, resources, or troops.
"The company built up a cash reserve for emergencies."
"The country holds large oil reserves."
2
Emotional restraint; a tendency to hold back feelings or opinions.
"He greeted the news with characteristic reserve."
How to Use Reserve
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo hold something back for later, or the thing being held back — money, land, feelings, or a spot in a queue.
Common pairings
reserve a table
financial reserves
natural reserves
hold something in reserve
Word Forms
reserved past tense, reserves plural, reserves singular
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Please _____ two seats near the front.
Etymology
From Old French reserver, from Latin reservare, "to keep back, retain".