reservation
rehz-VAY-shuhn
Reservation (noun) means a booking made in advance for a table, room, seat, or similar. Example: “I'd like to change my reservation from Friday to Saturday, please.”
noun
1
A booking made in advance for a table, room, seat, or similar.
"I'd like to change my reservation from Friday to Saturday, please."
"We made a dinner reservation for eight o'clock."
"The hotel confirmed our reservation by email."
2
A doubt or concern that makes you hesitant, even while broadly agreeing with something.
"The committee liked the proposal but voiced a few reservations about the cost."
"I have some reservations about the new schedule."
"Despite her reservations, she signed the contract."
3
An area of land set aside for a Native American people or, in some countries, an Aboriginal community.
"The museum describes how families lived on the reservation long ago."
"Schools on the reservation teach children both their own language and English."
"He grew up on a reservation in Arizona."
How to use reservation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a booking you've arranged ahead of time, or a lingering doubt that stops you fully committing to something.
Common pairings
make a reservation
have reservations about
cancel a reservation
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like reservation.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- reservations
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
I'd like to change my _____ from Friday to Saturday, please.
Etymology
From French reservation, built from "reserve" plus the noun ending "-ation".
Related words
Rhymes for reservation
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for reservation →
Frequently asked questions
What does “reservation” mean?
The word “reservation” means a booking made in advance for a table, room, seat, or similar. In plain terms, either a booking you've arranged ahead of time, or a lingering doubt that stops you fully committing to something.
How do you pronounce “reservation”?
“Reservation” is pronounced rehz-VAY-shuhn (/ˌɹɛz.ɚˈveɪ.ʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “reservation” in a sentence?
Here is “reservation” used in a sentence: “We made a dinner reservation for eight o'clock.”
What part of speech is “reservation”?
“Reservation” is a noun.
Where does the word “reservation” come from?
The word “reservation” comes from French. From French reservation, built from "reserve" plus the noun ending "-ation".
Is “reservation” a common word?
“Reservation” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “reservation” have?
“Reservation” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a booking made in advance for a table, room, seat, or similar.
What is the difference between a reservation and a booking?
In American English, "reservation" is the usual word for arranging a table, room, or seat in advance, while British English often prefers "booking." They mean the same thing, though "reservation" is especially common for restaurants and hotels.
What is the difference between a reservation and a reserve?
In the United States, a reservation is an area of land set aside for a Native American people, while in some other countries the equivalent is called a "reserve" — in Canada, for example. "Reservation" can also mean a booking or a doubt, senses "reserve" does not share.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include reservation:
