- 1 to ask for a seat, table, room, etc. to be available for you or somebody else at a future time synonym book reserve something for somebody/something I'd like to reserve a table for three for eight o'clock. reserve something I've reserved a room in the name of Jones. compare book See related entries: Dining out
- 2 to keep something for somebody/something, so that it cannot be used by any other person or for any other reason reserve something for somebody/something These seats are reserved for special guests. She said this in the tone of voice she reserved for addressing small children. reserve something I’d prefer to reserve (my) judgement(= not make a decision) until I know all the facts. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbexclusively, only, specially, … prepositionfor See full entry
- 3reserve something to have or keep a particular power The management reserves the right to refuse admission. (law) All rights reserved (= nobody else can publish or copy this). Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French reserver, from Latin reservare ‘keep back’, from re- ‘back’ + servare ‘to keep’.
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BrE BrE//rɪˈzɜːv//; NAmE NAmE//rɪˈzɜːrv//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they reserve BrE BrE//rɪˈzɜːv//; NAmE NAmE//rɪˈzɜːrv//
he / she / it reserves BrE BrE//rɪˈzɜːvz//; NAmE NAmE//rɪˈzɜːrvz//
past simple reserved BrE BrE//rɪˈzɜːvd//; NAmE NAmE//rɪˈzɜːrvd//
past participle reserved BrE BrE//rɪˈzɜːvd//; NAmE NAmE//rɪˈzɜːrvd//
-ing form reserving BrE BrE//rɪˈzɜːvɪŋ//; NAmE NAmE//rɪˈzɜːrvɪŋ//
Dining outCheck pronunciation: reserve
