reservation
/ˌrezəˈveɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌrezərˈveɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌre-zər-ˈvā-shən/ (ame, mw)
reservation — noun
- reservationsingular
- reservationsplural
1. a service that holds a spot — like a dining table, a hotel room, or an airline s
a service that holds a spot — like a dining table, a hotel room, or an airline seat — for someone who asks for it ahead of time
Jenna called the restaurant to make a reservation for eight people on Friday night.
make a reservation for [number] people
Dario checked his email and found the reservation for his flight to São Paulo.
reservation for [flight / travel]
The hotel lost our reservation, so we had to find another room.
Sumin made a reservation at the new sushi bar for her birthday dinner.
I called the airline to confirm my reservation for tomorrow morning's flight.
- booking
more common for tickets and services like hotels; slightly more informal
文法句型
make a reservation
have a reservation
reservation for [number]
用法筆記
Often paired with 'make' to describe the act of reserving, or 'have' to describe already having one. Common in travel and dining contexts.
常見錯誤
2. a territory inside the United States that the federal government set aside as a
a territory inside the United States that the federal government set aside as a home for Native American tribes, who govern themselves there
The Navajo Nation reservation covers over twenty-seven thousand square miles across three states.
proper noun + reservation as a named area
Quinn visited a museum near the reservation to learn Lakota history.
Many families on the reservation run small shops that sell traditional crafts to tourists.
The new clinic on the reservation serves more than two thousand residents.
- reserve
used in Canada and other countries for similar Indigenous lands
文法句型
[name] reservation
on a reservation
用法筆記
Capitalised when part of a specific tribe's official name (e.g. Pine Ridge Reservation). Commonly used with 'on' as the preposition. This sense is specific to US history and law.
3. a protected piece of land where wild animals are kept safe from hunters and wher
a protected piece of land where wild animals are kept safe from hunters and where their natural surroundings are looked after
The wildlife reservation in Kenya protects elephants from illegal hunting.
wildlife reservation + conservation context
Adina's class went to a nature reservation where they saw deer and birds.
Tourists are not allowed to enter the animal reservation without a trained guide.
The government added another five hundred acres to the coastal bird reservation.
文法句型
wildlife reservation
nature reservation
用法筆記
Often overlaps with 'reserve' or 'preserve' — 'wildlife reserve' and 'nature preserve' are more common in everyday speech. 'Reservation' in this sense is slightly more formal.
4. a state of uncertainty or worry that stops you from fully supporting a plan, ide
a state of uncertainty or worry that stops you from fully supporting a plan, idea, or choice — for instance, being unsure about trusting a person you have only just met
Tanvi had serious reservations about signing the contract without reading every clause.
have reservations about + gerund
The committee expressed reservations about the proposed changes to the school schedule.
express reservations about [proposal]
João accepted the job offer but had reservations about moving to a new country.
Élise shared her reservations with the team — the plan was too risky.
The doctor recommended the treatment without any reservation, saying it was the best option.
- doubt
stronger and more general; 'reservations' suggests specific concerns tied to a decision
- misgiving
more formal and slightly stronger; suggests moral or ethical unease
- hesitation
focuses on the delay in acting rather than on the doubt itself
- certainty
complete confidence with no doubts
文法句型
have reservations about [something]
express reservations
without reservation
用法筆記
Almost always used in the plural ('reservations'). The singular 'reservation' in this sense is rare except in the fixed expression 'without reservation'. Common verb partners: have, express, share, voice.