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   Synonyms: cold, distant, withdrawn, taciturn, constrained, reticent, controlled, composed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   Synonyms: cold, distant, withdrawn, taciturn, constrained, reticent, controlled, composed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

• reservedly, adverb
• reˈservedness, noun

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

Compared to many other members of WallStreetBets, Fage138 comes across as reserved and thoughtful.

From Quartz

Wall led Houston with 24 points and was somewhat more reserved during a videoconference after the game.

From Washington Post

Friends described Liebengood as humble and reserved, and said he shared a love of racecar driving with his late father, as well as a pull toward the halls of the Capitol.

From Washington Post

Buy nowEven if I know there’s a picnic table at my reserved camp spot, this piece of gear still goes in the car—you can never have too much table space when camping.

From Outside Online

For the remaining 82 percent of the Dunedin youngsters, the researchers found only weak links between age 3 temperament — say, being outgoing and confident or reserved but willing to interact with others — and personality 15 years later.

From Science News

Some seventy-plus countries currently offer some paternity leave or parental leave days reserved for the father.

From The Daily Beast

Were the reserved Brits ready for the razzmatazz and exposed flesh?

From The Daily Beast

But he also reserved the right to keep certain vulnerabilities close-hold.

From The Daily Beast

Cooking and taking care of the rooms – this is an industry that is reserved for women.

From The Daily Beast

In the interview, Ponomarev reserved some of his harshest words for Katrina vanden Heuvel, the editor and publisher of The Nation.

From The Daily Beast

Thus was the man left entirely to the devil, not even his life being reserved, as in the case of Job.

From Project Gutenberg

The two-thirds objective should be used as a finder, while the one-sixth is reserved for examining details.

From Project Gutenberg

She laughed and bantered him a little, remembering too late that she should have been dignified and reserved.

From Project Gutenberg

Five horses were shot under him, his clothes were riddled with bullets, but he was reserved for a sinister fate.

From Project Gutenberg

The Gentiles shall seek and find Christ, but the Jews will persecute him, and be rejected, only a remnant shall be reserved.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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