1
as in restraint
the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others
the salesclerk showed great reserve in dealing with the unreasonable demands of the angry customer
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Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in substitute
a person or thing that takes the place of another
when the first brigade fell back in retreat, the commander sent out the reserves to try to hold the line of battle
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4
as in spare
an interchangeable part or piece of equipment that is kept on hand for replacement of an original
don't throw that extra bike chain away, as I want to keep it as a reserve in case the current one breaks
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in to retain
to continue to have in one's possession or power
I'm reserving the right to work by myself if you don't do your share of the project
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3
as in to dedicate
to keep or intend for a special purpose
we must reserve this cup for ceremonial use only
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of reserve
James Sample, ABC News, 8 Nov. 2025
The mayor has been vocal about the budget's need to tackle a $100 million budget shortfall, address the demands of inflation and pension costs, maintain service levels, the sunsetting of federal aid and the city's need to withdraw $35 million from its reserves.
—Vanessa Swales, jsonline.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 Jan. 2026
Given the spa’s modest size with four treatment rooms, be sure to reserve an appointment well in advance of your stay.
—Jennie Nunn, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reserve
Noun
By its own admission, the USDA controls multiple accounts with more than enough money to sustain SNAP for the month—including a $5 billion emergency reserve created by Congress specifically for that purpose.
—Verb
Smartphone makers typically reserve this format for 50-megapixel sensors.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for reserve
Noun
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But restraint does not mean passivity.—
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The American Conservative was founded on foreign policy restraint, trade realism, and migration sanity in 2002.—
Noun
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Mayor Bass also secured 17 positions for supply and maintenance staffing, including heavy-duty mechanics, mechanic helpers, tire repairers, maintenance laborers, toolroom workers, truck operators and more.—
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That has been largely driven by the milk supply.—
Noun
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Use substitutes like wash cloths and knitted pieces over the mop head.—
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Bakwa had an impressive cameo as a substitute against Everton recently, but lacked the same drive against the Championship club last night.—
Noun
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Precision is necessary to pick up spares.—
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The deal valued at approximately $450 million including spares, support, logistics, and training.—
Verb
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Gatica was tracked down, arrested on charges of DUI and related offenses, and booked into the Orange County Jail.—
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The veteran actress appeared in Todd Haynes’ Emmy-winning miniseries adaptation of Mildred Pierce (2011) and booked a key role in the final season of The Americans (2018).—
Verb
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Save Victoria Park retains hope that the decision can be reversed, saying that applications for the park’s permanent legal protection are still being evaluated.—
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Crockett then argued that the criticism reflects Republican discomfort with her appeal to voters Democrats have struggled to retain, particularly those without college degrees.—
Verb
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Despite the losses, Damon traveled to Texas and won the national title, dedicating the victory to his family and supporters.—
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Since that time, Pratt has dedicated himself to railing against Bass, the Los Angeles City Council, and California Governor Gavin Newsom for their responses to the fires.—
Noun
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Eberflus’ best intentions and vision for winning football disintegrated due in part to his team’s lack of discipline and the coaching staff’s inability to steer out of even the smallest skids.—
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However, the Chinese researchers argue that those systems typically focus on fewer disciplines and often require manual adjustments when expanded.—
Cite this Entry
“Reserve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reserve. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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