reserves 1 of 2

noun

plural of reserve
1
as in deposits
a collection of things kept available for future use or need our fuel reserves are low

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2
as in substitutes
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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3
as in spares
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

reserves

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of reserve
1
as in books
to arrange to have something (as a hotel room) held for one's future use we made sure to reserve a kennel for our dog several months before the start of the family vacation

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2
as in retains
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dedicates
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 show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of reserves
Noun
Tehran’s ability to effectively close the strait — an open, untolled international waterway before the war started — triggered a global energy supply shock that drove up gas prices, exacerbated inflation and raised alarms about oil reserves. — Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026 Venezuela benefited from a vast supply of oil reserves and thrived economically until the price of oil collapsed in the 1980s. — Mike Patton, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 But financial market restrictions have kept the renminbi’s share of global foreign exchange reserves to low single-digit percentages. — Mark Jia, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026 While the defensive reserves struggled, allowing 425 total yards to Arizona, the offense looked promising despite playing only reserves at all positions. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 7 Aug. 2026 The 2026 Miami Dolphins are full of opportunity for both youngsters and veterans who have mostly been reserves in their careers to earn a starting role. — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026 The emphasis on reserves illustrates Taiwan’s efforts to address the military power asymmetry between itself and China, Yang said. — ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026 The county currently has about $26 million in its general fund reserves, but is over the 90 days’ worth if taking into consideration its other special reserve accounts. — Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026 Nigerian energy retailers called for the state to create local strategic reserves of petrol and other fuels to buffer from supply shocks in the global oil market. — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 31 July 2026
Verb
Company reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value if necessary. — The Athletic, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026 Over the past 15 years, senior Saudi leaders, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, have repeatedly warned that should Tehran successfully develop a nuclear weapon, Riyadh reserves the right to do the same. — Taylor Luck, Christian Science Monitor, 22 July 2026 Apple usually reserves the base variant of its chip series for the standard iPhone models, while the Pro models get the corresponding Pro chip. — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 16 July 2026 The president’s tactic came after Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who voted against the president in the ruling, noted that Congress reserves the right to pass legislation changing the law. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 8 July 2026 Wimbledon reserves a handful of tickets for same-day purchase, with some fans camping out the night before in Wimbledon Park in a bid to get their hands on a pass. — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 2 July 2026 The Catholic Church reserves the priesthood for men, and women have long complained of a second-class status despite carrying out the lion’s share of the church’s work running schools, hospitals and passing the faith onto younger generations. — Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026 Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value. — AJC.com, 30 June 2026 Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify a potential winner based on the results of such background check if Sponsor determines in its sole discretion that selecting such potential finalist might reflect negatively on the Sponsor. — Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 25 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reserves
  1. deposits
  2. substitutes
  3. spares
  4. books
  5. retains
  6. dedicates
  7. supplies
  8. replacements
Noun
  • The informal miners go into the mines to look for leftover deposits to sell.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Only about 6% of the region’s deposits are controlled by the combined bank, ranking fourth behind larger national competition such as Truist, Bank of America and Wells Fargo.
    — Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of deposits
Noun
  • That's one reason sugar substitutes like aspartame have become so popular.
    — Alexandra Frost, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026
  • These non-alcoholic mocktail recipes rebuild familiar favorites with fruit, herbs and zero-proof substitutes.
    — Ryan Brennan August 7, Charlotte Observer, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of substitutes
Noun
  • Temporary spares are narrower, lighter, and made with less tread than standard tires.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The contract will procure spares for F-35 fighter jets and will deploy spare packages to the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, F-35 program partners and foreign military customers.
    — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 July 2026
Definition of spares
Verb
  • Checks provider and location availability against real scheduling rules and books the visit, live, inside the EHR.
    — Deepika Bodapati, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • But the company’s second-quarter earnings reported last month showed that high-performance computing, which is where TSMC books AI chip sales, accounted for 66% of revenue.
    — Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of books
Verb
  • The 12-article draft legislation outlines the procedures for the disarmament of the group — which still retains the bulk of its weapons — and the rehabilitation of thousands of PKK members.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Employers should cease auditing health, design for fluctuation, ensure default accessibility, and cover costs, recognizing that universal access benefits everyone and retains talent.
    — Keely Cat-Wells, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of retains
Verb
  • The Act 152 program was established in 2021 and dedicates $15 from each county deed transfer to a demolition fund that targets blight throughout Allegheny County.
    — Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 29 July 2026
  • Manduka yoga mat pros Manduka dedicates itself to helping the environment in any way possible.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 14 July 2026
Definition of dedicates
Noun
  • Tehran also responded by effectively shutting down tanker and cargo traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, through which around one-fifth of global oil supplies usually transit.
    — Frank Andrews, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Before the war, an average of 120 vessels crossed the crucial waterway, through which one-fifth of global oil supplies used to travel, every day.
    — Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of supplies
Noun
  • The replacements can be annuals or perennials that can take you into fall.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Say goodbye to costly cartridge replacements mid-semester with the Canon PIXMA G3272 MegaTank printer.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of replacements

Browse Nearby Words

reservedness
reserves
reserving
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Cite this Entry

“Reserves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reserves. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on reserves

Nglish: Translation of reserves for Spanish Speakers

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