reserved

adjective

re·​served ri-ˈzərvd How to pronounce reserved (audio)
Synonyms of reservednext
1
: restrained in words and actions
2
: kept or set apart or aside for future or special use
reservedly
ri-ˈzər-vəd-lē How to pronounce reserved (audio)
adverb
reservedness
ri-ˈzər-vəd-nəs How to pronounce reserved (audio)
noun

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for reserved

silent, taciturn, reticent, reserved, secretive mean showing restraint in speaking.

silent implies a habit of saying no more than is needed.

the strong, silent type

taciturn implies a temperamental disinclination to speech and usually connotes unsociability.

taciturn villagers

reticent implies a reluctance to speak out or at length, especially about one's own affairs.

was reticent about his plans

reserved implies reticence and suggests the restraining influence of caution or formality in checking easy informal conversational exchange.

greetings were brief, formal, and reserved

secretive, too, implies reticence but usually carries a suggestion of deviousness and lack of frankness or of an often ostentatious will to conceal.

the secretive research and development division

Examples of reserved in a Sentence

She is a very reserved young woman. The front row is reserved for faculty.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Breznik’s husband, Matjaž, a reserved and soft-spoken man, is her sous-chef. —Ellen Ruppel Shell, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Nov. 2024 By that time, most of the people who came to watch had cleared the sales floor for the more inviting environs of their idling black cars or their reserved table at Mr. Chow. —George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 20 Nov. 2024 This isn’t just due to Donald Trump’s enthusiastic endorsements or Kamala Harris’s reserved nod to the industry. —Marie Poteriaieva, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 After the plea, Huey, wearing a brown suit, made a short, reserved statement. —Justin Curto, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for reserved 

Word History

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of reserved was in 1601

Phrases Containing reserved

Dictionary Entries Near reserved

reserve clause

reserved

reserved book

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Reserved.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reserved. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

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Kids Definition

reserved

adjective
re·​served ri-ˈzərvd How to pronounce reserved (audio)
1
: cautious in words and actions
a reserved young man
2
: kept or set apart or aside for future or special use
a reserved table
reservedly
-ˈzər-vəd-lē How to pronounce reserved (audio)
adverb
reservedness
-ˈzər-vəd-nəs
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on reserved

Nglish: Translation of reserved for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of reserved for Arabic Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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