Reserve vs. Preserve — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on September 30, 2023
"Reserve" often means to set something aside for future use, while "Preserve" means to maintain or protect something in its existing state. Both indicate retaining, but the latter emphasizes protection or conservation.
Difference Between Reserve and Preserve
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Reserve" is a versatile word that frequently signifies the act of setting something aside, whether it's a table at a restaurant or a portion of resources. "Preserve", on the other hand, underscores the act of keeping something safe or maintaining it in its original or unspoiled state. While "Reserve" implies allocation for future utilization, "Preserve" indicates active protection.
In environmental contexts, a "Reserve" might be an area set aside for specific purposes like research or indigenous community use. A "Preserve", however, is often a region where nature is protected from harmful human activities. Both terms highlight conservation but with different intentions.
From a linguistic perspective, "Reserve" can be both a noun and a verb, denoting the action of reserving or the thing being reserved. "Preserve" functions similarly, representing both the action of preserving and the thing or place being preserved. Yet, while "Reserve" might hint at potential future use, "Preserve" emphasizes a current state's continuation.
Comparison Chart
Primary Meaning
To set aside for future use
To maintain or protect in its existing state
Environmental Context
An area for specific purposes
An area protected from harm
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Linguistic Function
Both a noun and verb, hinting at future use
Both a noun and verb, emphasizing current state
Social Situations
Holding back (e.g., judgment)
Safeguarding (e.g., dignity)
Financial Context
Amounts set aside for future needs
Ensuring the safety and longevity of assets
Compare with Definitions
Reserve
To set something aside for future use.
Please reserve two tickets for the evening show.
Preserve
An area where nature or historic elements are protected.
The national preserve is a sanctuary for migratory birds.
Reserve
A backup supply or resource.
The army has a reserve of supplies for emergencies.
Preserve
To prepare food for long-term storage.
My grandmother loves to preserve fruits as jams.
Reserve
To keep back, as for future use or for a special purpose
The hospital reserves certain drugs for the most serious cases.
Preserve
To maintain or uphold certain conditions.
We must preserve the traditions passed down to us.
Reserve
To set or cause to be set apart for a particular person or use
Reserved a seat on the next flight out.
Preserve
To keep from injury, peril, or harm; protect.
Reserve
Something kept back or saved for future use or a special purpose
A runner with a reserve of energy for the final lap.
Preserve
To keep in perfect or unaltered condition; maintain unchanged
Fossils preserved in sediments.
A film preserved in the archives.
Reserve
An amount of capital that is not invested or otherwise used in order to meet probable demands, such as withdrawals by bank depositors or claims on insurance policies.
Preserve
To keep or maintain intact
Tried to preserve family harmony.
Reserve
Lack of enthusiasm, as from a misgiving or doubt
Supported the idea without reserve.
Preserve
To prepare (food) for storage or future use, as by canning or salting.
Reserve
Self-restraint in expression or bearing; reticence or coolness
Maintained a dignified reserve throughout the ceremony.
Preserve
To prevent (organic bodies) from decaying or spoiling
Preserved the specimen in a chemical solution.
Reserve
A reservation of public land
A forest reserve.
Preserve
To protect (wildlife or natural resources) in a designated area, often for regulated hunting or fishing.
Reserve
An amount of a mineral, fossil fuel, or other resource known to exist in a particular location and to be exploitable
The discovery of large oil reserves.
Preserve
To maintain (an area) for the protection of wildlife or natural resources.
Reserve
A fighting force kept uncommitted until strategic need arises.
Preserve
To treat fruit or other foods so as to prevent decay.
Reserve
The part of a country's armed forces not on active duty but subject to call in an emergency.
Preserve
To maintain an area for the protection of wildlife or natural resources.
Reserve
A member of either of these forces
The army's active reserves.
Preserve
Something that acts to preserve; a preservative.
Reserve
A group of players that play only as substitutes for starters in games or are kept from playing for some reason.
Preserve
Often preserves Fruit cooked with sugar to protect against decay or fermentation.
Reserve
One of these players.
Preserve
An area maintained for the protection of wildlife or natural resources.
Reserve
Held in or forming a reserve
A reserve supply of food.
Preserve
Something considered as being the exclusive province of certain persons
Ancient Greek is the preserve of scholars.
Reserve
(behaviour) Restriction.
Preserve
A sweet spread made of any of a variety of fruits.
Reserve
The act of reserving or keeping back; reservation; exception.
The book is on reserve.
Preserve
A reservation, a nature preserve.
Reserve
Restraint of freedom in words or actions; backwardness; caution in personal behavior.
Preserve
An activity with restricted access.
Reserve
That which is reserved or kept back, as for future use.
Preserve
To protect; to keep from harm or injury.
Every people have the right to preserve its identity and culture.
Reserve
A natural resource known to exist but not currently exploited.
New oil reserves are continuously being discovered, but not as fast as the existing ones are running out.
Preserve
To save from decay by the use of some preservative substance, such as sugar or salt; to season and prepare (fruits, meat, etc.) for storage.
To preserve peaches or grapes
Reserve
A tract of land reserved, or set apart, for a particular purpose
The Connecticut Reserve in Ohio was originally set apart for the school fund of Connecticut.
The Clergy Reserves in Canada are for the support of the clergy.
Preserve
To maintain throughout; to keep intact.
To preserve appearances; to preserve silence
Reserve
(Canada) A tract of land set apart for the use of an Aboriginal group; Indian reserve (compare US reservation.)
Preserve
To keep or save from injury or destruction; to guard or defend from evil, harm, danger, etc.; to protect.
O Lord, thou preserved man and beast.
Now, good angels preserve the king.
Reserve
(military) A body of troops kept in the rear of an army drawn up for battle, reserved to support the other lines as occasion may require; a force or body of troops kept for an exigency.
Preserve
To save from decay by the use of some preservative substance, as sugar, salt, etc.; to season and prepare for remaining in a good state, as fruits, meat, etc.; as, to preserve peaches or grapes.
You can not preserve it from tainting.
Reserve
Funds kept on hand to meet planned or unplanned financial requirements.
Preserve
To maintain throughout; to keep intact; as, to preserve appearances; to preserve silence.
Reserve
A reserve price in an auction.
Preserve
To make preserves.
Reserve
Wine held back and aged before being sold.
Preserve
To protect game for purposes of sport.
Reserve
(ceramics) Absence of color or decoration; the state of being left plain.
Preserve
That which is preserved; fruit, etc., seasoned and kept by suitable preparation; esp., fruit cooked with sugar; - commonly in the plural.
Reserve
(social) Something initially kept back for later use in a recreation.
Preserve
A place in which game, fish, etc., are preserved for purposes of sport, or for food.
Reserve
(sports) A member of a team who does not participate from the start of the game, but can be used to replace tired or injured team-mates.
Preserve
A domain that seems to be specially reserved for someone;
Medicine is no longer a male preserve
Reserve
(card games) A group or pile of cards dealt out at the beginning of a patience or solitaire game to be used during play.
Preserve
A reservation where animals are protected
Reserve
In exhibitions, a distinction indicating that the recipient will get a prize in the event of another person being disqualified.
Preserve
Fruit preserved by cooking with sugar
Reserve
(calico printing) A resist.
Preserve
Keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last;
Preserve the peace in the family
Continue the family tradition
Carry on the old traditions
Reserve
A preparation used on an object being electroplated to fix the limits of the deposit.
Preserve
Keep in safety and protect from harm, decay, loss, or destruction;
We preserve these archeological findings
The old lady could not keep up the building
Children must be taught to conserve our national heritage
The museum curator conserved the ancient manuscripts
Reserve
To keep back; to retain.
We reserve the right to make modifications.
Preserve
To keep up and reserve for personal or special use;
She saved the old family photographs in a drawer
Reserve
To keep in store for future or special use.
This cake is reserved for the guests!
Preserve
Prevent (food) from rotting;
Preserved meats
Keep potatoes fresh
Reserve
To book in advance; to make a reservation.
I reserved a table for us at the best restaurant in town.
Preserve
Maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger;
May God keep you
Reserve
(obsolete) To make an exception of; to except.
Preserve
Keep undisturbed for personal or private use for hunting, shooting, or fishing;
Preserve the forest and the lakes
Reserve
To keep back; to retain; not to deliver, make over, or disclose.
Preserve
To keep something safe from harm or decay.
It's essential to preserve historical monuments for future generations.
Reserve
Hence, to keep in store for future or special use; to withhold from present use for another purpose or time; to keep; to retain; to make a reservation{7}.
Hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, which I have reserved against the time of trouble?
Reserve your kind looks and language for private hours.
Preserve
An act of ensuring something continues.
The museum's mission is the preserve of art and culture.
Reserve
To make an exception of; to except.
Reserve
The act of reserving, or keeping back; reservation.
However any one may concur in the general scheme, it is still with certain reserves and deviations.
Reserve
That which is reserved, or kept back, as for future use.
The virgins, besides the oil in their lamps, carried likewise a reserve in some other vessel for a continual supply.
Reserve
That which is excepted; exception.
Each has some darling lust, which pleads for a reserve.
Reserve
Restraint of freedom in words or actions; backwardness; caution in personal behavior.
My soul, surprised, and from her sex disjoined,Left all reserve, and all the sex, behind.
The clergyman's shy and sensitive reserve had balked this scheme.
Reserve
A tract of land reserved, or set apart, for a particular purpose; as, the Connecticut Reserve in Ohio, originally set apart for the school fund of Connecticut; the Clergy Reserves in Canada, for the support of the clergy.
Reserve
A body of troops in the rear of an army drawn up for battle, reserved to support the other lines as occasion may require; a force or body of troops kept for an exigency.
Reserve
Funds kept on hand to meet liabilities.
Reserve
That part of the assets of a bank or other financial institution specially kept in cash in a more or less liquid form as a reasonable provision for meeting all demands which may be made upon it;
Reserve
In exhibitions, a distinction which indicates that the recipient will get a prize if another should be disqualified.
Reserve
A resist.
Reserve
A preparation used on an object being electroplated to fix the limits of the deposit.
Reserve
Formality and propriety of manner
Reserve
Something kept back or saved for future use or a special purpose
Reserve
An athlete who plays only when another member of the team drops out
Reserve
(medicine) potential capacity to respond in order to maintain vital functions
Reserve
A district that is reserved for particular purpose
Reserve
Armed forces that are not on active duty but can be called in an emergency
Reserve
The trait of being uncommunicative; not volunteering anything more than necessary
Reserve
Hold back or set aside, especially for future use or contingency;
They held back their applause in anticipation
Reserve
Give or assign a share of money or time to a particular person or cause;
I will earmark this money for your research
Reserve
Obtain or arrange (for oneself) in advance;
We managed to reserve a table at Maxim's
Reserve
Arrange for and reserve (something for someone else) in advance;
Reserve me a seat on a flight
The agent booked tickets to the show for the whole family
Please hold a table at Maxim's
Reserve
Not engaged in military action
Reserve
Kept in reserve especially for emergency use;
A reserve supply of food
A spare tire
Spare parts
Reserve
A specified area for a particular purpose.
The wildlife reserve is home to many endangered species.
Reserve
Restrained in words or actions.
She responded with a reserve, not showing her true feelings.
Reserve
A lack of warmth or openness in manner.
His reserve made it difficult for others to get to know him.
Common Curiosities
Can a nature "Reserve" also be a "Preserve"?
Yes, but a "Reserve" typically has specific purposes, while a "Preserve" focuses on protection.
What's a "Reserve" in a financial context?
In finance, a "Reserve" refers to funds set aside for potential future needs.
Do "Reserve" and "Preserve" mean the same thing?
No, "Reserve" often means setting aside, while "Preserve" means maintaining or protecting.
Can "Preserve" relate to food?
Yes, "Preserve" can mean preparing food, like jams, for long-term storage.
If I book a table, do I "Reserve" or "Preserve" it?
You "Reserve" it for future use.
How does "Preserve" function in grammar?
Like "Reserve", "Preserve" can be both a noun and a verb.
Is a "Preserve" always about nature?
No, it can refer to any area or thing protected or maintained, including history or culture.
In an emergency, would you use a "Reserve" or "Preserve"?
Typically, a "Reserve" as it refers to backup supplies or resources.
Is "Preserve" always a verb?
No, "Preserve" can also be a noun, referring to what's being protected.
Can "Reserve" relate to behavior?
Yes, "Reserve" can denote restraint or lack of openness in demeanor.
How does "Reserve" function in grammar?
"Reserve" can be both a noun and a verb, depending on context.
Does "Preserve" always mean active protection?
Often, but it can also denote ensuring something continues or remains in its current state.
Can we use "Preserve" for traditions?
Yes, it can mean maintaining or upholding traditions.
Can an area be both a "Reserve" and "Preserve"?
Yes, if it's set aside for a specific purpose and also protected from harm.
Is "Reserve" always about physical spaces?
No, it can also refer to non-physical allocations like time or judgment.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
