Keep in reserve

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Keep in reserve" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to holding something back for future use or in case of need. Example: "We should keep some funds in reserve for unexpected expenses." Alternative expressions include "set aside" and "hold back."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

What people in the West need, health officials agree, is new drugs that we can keep in reserve against an outbreak that regular antibiotics can't contain.

The New Yorker

That means that banks need new tools to assess how much capital they must keep in reserve to insure against losses on riskier assets.

The New York Times

While this severe shortage of fuel spread through northern Japan, oil companies were sitting on huge supplies which by law they had to keep in reserve.

The Economist

The amount of capital that banks must keep in reserve will have to rise; deregulated financial institutions will have to be regulated.

The New York Times

Kono noted there was in fact an unused connection between the Hokkaido grid and the Honshu grid that the companies keep in reserve for unspecified emergencies.

The Guardian

The Chinese government, which had been trying to curtail credit to slow the bubble's rise, abruptly changed course last month, reducing the amount of money banks must keep in reserve at the central bank for the first time since 2008.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

Regulation XXX, as issued by insurance commissioners, required life insurers to use government mortality tables when they calculated how much they needed to keep in reserves.

The New York Times

Last month, India's central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lowered the amount of money that banks need to keep in reserves in a bid to boost lending.

BBC

It also lowered the amount of money that banks need to keep in reserves in an attempt to boost lending in the country.

BBC

But sanctions should be lifted only gradually, with some prizes kept in reserve.

The Economist

Even where statutory powers of control exist, they have usually been kept in reserve.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing financial planning, use "keep in reserve" to emphasize the importance of having readily available funds for unexpected expenses or opportunities.

Common error

Avoid using "keep in resurface" when you mean "keep in reserve". "Resurface" relates to restoring a surface, while "reserve" implies setting something aside for later use. Using the wrong term can drastically alter the meaning of your sentence.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "keep in reserve" is that of a verb phrase. Ludwig examples showcase it being used to describe the action of setting aside resources or items for future use, reflecting a deliberate act of preservation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Formal & Business

24%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Science & Research

6%

Huffington Post

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "keep in reserve" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression that signifies the act of setting something aside for future use. Ludwig's AI analysis indicates it has widespread acceptance across various contexts, including news, business, and academia. While alternatives such as "set aside" or "hold back" exist, "keep in reserve" maintains a neutral tone suitable for diverse writing needs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hold in store

Emphasizes the act of storing something for later use.

set aside

Highlights the act of allocating something for a specific purpose or future need.

maintain as a backup

Focuses on having something available in case of failure or need.

stockpile

Suggests accumulating a large quantity of something.

retain for future use

More formal, explicitly stating the intention of using something later.

lay away

Implies putting something aside gradually over time.

stash away

Suggests hiding something for safekeeping and later use.

have on hand

Indicates readily available resources for immediate deployment.

cache

Implies storing something secretly or securely.

husband resources

Emphasizes careful and economical use of resources, reserving some for later.

FAQs

How can I use "keep in reserve" in a sentence?

You can use "keep in reserve" to describe setting aside resources or items for future use, like "The company decided to "keep in reserve" a portion of its profits for potential economic downturns".

What are some alternatives to "keep in reserve"?

Alternatives include "set aside", "hold back", or "retain for future use", each with slight differences in emphasis.

Is "keep in reserve" formal or informal?

"Keep in reserve" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though more formal alternatives exist for highly professional settings.

What's the difference between "keep in reserve" and "stockpile"?

"Keep in reserve" implies setting aside a reasonable amount for future needs, while "stockpile" suggests accumulating a large quantity, often in anticipation of scarcity or emergency.