reserved

[ ri-zurvd ]

adjective

1. kept or set apart for some particular use or purpose.
2. kept by special arrangement for some person:

   a reserved seat.

3. formal or self-restrained in manner and relationship; avoiding familiarity or intimacy with others:

   a quiet, reserved man.

   Synonyms: cold, distant, withdrawn, taciturn, constrained, reticent, controlled, composed

4. characterized by reserve, as the disposition, manner, etc.:

   reserved comments.

   Synonyms: cold, distant, withdrawn, taciturn, constrained, reticent, controlled, composed

5. retaining the original color of a surface, especially when decorating portions of the surface with other colors.

reserved

/ rɪˈzɜːvd; rɪˈzɜːvɪdlɪ /

adjective

1. set aside for use by a particular person or people

   this table is reserved

2. cool or formal in manner; restrained, silent, or reticent
3. destined; fated

   reserved for great things

4. referring to matters that are the responsibility of the national parliament rather than a devolved regional assembly

   defence is a reserved issue

Derived Forms

• reˈservedness, noun
• reservedly, adverb

Other Words From

• re·serv·ed·ly [ri-, zur, -vid-lee], adverb
• re·served·ness noun
• over·re·served adjective
• over·re·serv·ed·ly adverb
• over·re·serv·ed·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of reserved¹

A late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75; reserve, -ed ²

Example Sentences

The dates that can be reserved are Feb. 8-9, 15-17 and 22-23.

From Los Angeles Times

Carl, a kind raccoon who loves to collect things, lives in a fictional world called Fuzzytown with his friends, including twin rabbits, a helpful beaver, a reserved fox and an energetic squirrel.

From Los Angeles Times

In the latest in a growing list of these particular moments, the typically staid and reserved Martha Stewart was clearly not thrilled by the close proximity and intimacy with which Barrymore conducted a recent interview.

From Salon

A bill making its way through Parliament would abolish the 92 seats reserved for peers who inherit their titles through their families.

From BBC

"In the 21st Century it cannot be right for there to be places in our legislature reserved for those born into certain families," she told the Commons.

From BBC

Related Words

• aloof
• cautious
• composed
• distant
• modest
• peaceful
• placid
• quiet
• restrained
• reticent
• serene
• soft-spoken
• taciturn