Meaning & use
reserve
A supply of something kept back and available for use when it becomes necessary.
See it in a sentence
The company kept a cash reserve in case sales fell sharply during the winter months.
Firefighters called in the reserve crew after the blaze spread to a second building.
A note on using this word
Reserve implies something deliberately held back for a future or emergency need, unlike a surplus, which is simply extra.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. verb
To arrange in advance for something to be kept or held for a particular person or purpose.
We reserved a table for four at the new restaurant downtown.
3. noun
A quality of self-restraint or reticence in showing one's feelings or opinions openly.
Despite his usual reserve, he laughed loudly at the joke.
4. noun
An area of land protected for the conservation of wildlife or natural resources.
The rangers tracked the elephant herd across the wildlife reserve.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “reserve”, then compare your use with the examples above.