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   Synonyms: cold, distant, withdrawn, taciturn, constrained, reticent, controlled, composed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   Synonyms: cold, distant, withdrawn, taciturn, constrained, reticent, controlled, composed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

Since there may not be settlers available to move into a cleared-out area at a given moment, such areas are often designated as "state land" or "nature reserves" and reserved for future use.

From Salon

In the first entry of a two-movie telling, Elphaba is a reserved, gifted young woman trying to hone her skills and maybe someday partner with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

From Los Angeles Times

In the case of semi-industrial fishing, they report that vessels fish within the three-nautical-mile zone and in marine protected areas reserved for artisanal fishing.

From Science Daily

The rest of the year, Sundays are reserved for decompressing with reality TV and true crime.

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

Related Words

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