in reserve

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

re•serve /rɪˈzɜrv/   v., -served, -serv•ing, n., adj. 
v. [~ + object]

1. to keep back or save for future use, handling, etc.:
   He reserved his strength for the last half mile of the race.
2. to keep aside or save by an arrangement in advance:
   We reserved a room at the hotel.
3. to set apart for a particular use, purpose, service, etc.:
   reserved certain seats for the elderly.
4. to delay;
   postpone:
   He reserved judgment on the plan.

n. 

5. Business [countable] cash, or other financial sources that can be easily changed into cash or held aside to meet unexpected demands.
6. something stored or saved for use or time of need;
   stock:
   [countable] a reserve of food.
7. an area of public land set apart for a special purpose:
   [countable] a forest reserve.
8. Military reserves, [plural] part of a military force held in readiness to assist the main force, or kept apart and not in active duty:
   joined the reserves.
9. [uncountable] caution or formality in one's words or actions.

adj. [before a noun]

10. kept in reserve:
    reserve supplies.

Idioms

11. Idioms in reserve, put aside for a future need:
    money held in reserve.

See -serv-².

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

re-serve  (rē sûrv′), v.t., v.i., -served, -serv•ing. 

1. to serve again.

• re- + serve 1865–70

re•serve  (ri zûrv′), v., -served, -serv•ing, n., adj. 
v.t. 

1. to keep back or save for future use, disposal, treatment, etc.
2. to retain or secure by express stipulation.
3. to set apart for a particular use, purpose, service, etc.:
   ground reserved for gardening.
4. to keep for oneself.
5. to retain (the original color) of a surface, as on a painted ceramic piece.
6. Religion to save or set aside (a portion of the Eucharistic elements) to be administered, as to the sick, outside of the Mass or communion service.

n. 

7. Business [Finance.]
   • Business cash, or assets readily convertible into cash, held aside, as by a corporation, bank, state or national government, etc., to meet expected or unexpected demands.
   • uninvested cash held to comply with legal requirements.
8. something kept or stored for use or need;
   stock:
   a reserve of food.
9. a resource not normally called upon but available if needed.
10. a tract of public land set apart for a special purpose:
    a forest reserve.
11. an act of reserving;
    reservation, exception, or qualification:
    I will do what you ask, but with one reserve.
12. Military
    • a fraction of a military force held in readiness to sustain the attack or defense made by the rest of the force.
    • the part of a country's fighting force not in active service.
    • reserves, the enrolled but not regular components of the U.S. Army.
13. formality and self-restraint in manner and relationship;
    avoidance of familiarity or intimacy with others:
    to conduct oneself with reserve.
14. reticence or silence.
15. in reserve, put aside or withheld for a future need;
    reserved:
    money in reserve.
16. without reserve:
    • without restraint;
      frankly;
      freely.
    • (of articles at auction) without limitation as to the terms of sale, esp. with no stipulated minimum price.

adj. 

17. kept in reserve;
    forming a reserve:
    a reserve fund; a reserve supply.
18. Animal Husbandry of or pertaining to the animal awarded second place in livestock shows:
    the reserve champion steer.

• Latin reservāre to keep back, retain, equivalent. to re- re- + servāre to save
• Middle French reserver
• Middle English reserven (verb, verbal) 1325–75

re•serv′a•ble, adj. 
re•serve′less, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. husband, hold, store. See keep. 
• 8. supply.
• 14. taciturnity, constraint, coldness.

Antonyms

• 1. squander.
• 13, 14. warmth.