reserve

/ɹɪˈzɝv/

//ɹɪˈzɝv// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"reserve" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“reserve” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #2,496 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#2,496
frequency rank, English
7
letters
10
tracked misspellings
9
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A restriction.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

reserve vs revere
71% similar
reserve vs reverse
71% similar
reserve vs resolve
71% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for reserve
PropertyValue
Headwordreserve
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ɹɪˈzɝv/
Letters7
Frequency rank#2,496
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs9
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “reserve” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). reserve lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for reserve is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɹɪˈzɝv/. Corpus data places it at rank #2,496 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 16 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for reserve, with forms such as "erserve", "reesrve", and "reserev". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 9 confusable-pair relationships, "revere", "reverse", "resolve", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Old French reserver, from Latin reservō (“to reserve, retain”). The correct English form is reserve, spelled R-E-S-E-R-V-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    A restriction.
  2. 2
    A restriction.
  3. 3
    That which is reserved or kept back, as for future use.
  4. 4
    That which is reserved or kept back, as for future use.
  5. 5
    That which is reserved or kept back, as for future use.
  6. 6
    That which is reserved or kept back, as for future use.
  7. 7
    That which is reserved or kept back, as for future use.
  8. 8
    That which is reserved or kept back, as for future use.
  9. 9
    That which is reserved or kept back, as for future use.
  10. 10
    That which is reserved or kept back, as for future use.
  11. 11
    That which is reserved or kept back, as for future use.
  12. 12
    Something initially kept back for later use in recreation.
  13. 13
    Something initially kept back for later use in recreation.
  14. 14
    In exhibitions, a distinction indicating that the recipient will get a prize in the event of another person being disqualified.
  15. 15
    A resist.
  16. 16
    A preparation used on an object being electroplated to fix the limits of the deposit.

Etymology

From Old French reserver, from Latin reservō (“to reserve, retain”).

Synonyms

self-restraintreticencetaciturnitysubstituteArmy ReserveTerritorial ArmyTATAVRterritorialsterriersreservistsreservationresrez

This word in other languages

reserva(Español)réservation(Français)Reservieren(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: erserve,reesrve,reserev,reserrve,reservve,resevre,resreve,resserve,rreserve,rseerve

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of reserve - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

erserve2reesrve2reserev2reserrve1reservve1resevre2resreve2resserve1
Edit distance from "reserve"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "reserve"?
"reserve" is spelled R-E-S-E-R-V-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ɹɪˈzɝv/.
What does "reserve" mean?
As a noun, "reserve" means: A restriction.
What words are commonly confused with "reserve"?
"reserve" is commonly confused with "revere", "reverse", "resolve". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "reserve"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "reserve" is /ɹɪˈzɝv/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "reserve"?
From Old French reserver, from Latin reservō (“to reserve, retain”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “reserve”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is R-E-S-E-R-V-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɹɪˈzɝv/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “revere” - see the side-by-side comparison. reserve vs revere
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list