hold reservations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hold reservations" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It means to keep or maintain an existing reservation for something, such as a hotel room, flight, or restaurant table. Example: I'll make sure to hold reservations for our dinner tonight at the fancy restaurant downtown.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Tribes such as the Tohono O'odham (Papago), Yaqui, Pima, and several Yuman peoples hold reservations throughout the desert.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It is clearly aimed at undecided voters who may like the idea of Mrs. Clinton's candidacy but hold reservations about her.

The New York Times

"Public health benefits from vaccines hinge on very high levels of immunization in the population, so it's important to understand which groups hold reservations about the MMR vaccine," said Cary Funk, the report's lead author.

The Washington Post

The industry headed that off by submitting a voluntary set of standards, promising, among other things, to respond to complaints within 60 days and to allow consumers to hold reservations for 24 hours.

The New York Times

The 80percentt who did and who hold reservations for cruises that will never take place should seek a refund through the credit-card company first, as soon as possible.

The New York Times - Travel

Among the four hundred and seventy-five people who hold reservations already are Branson himself, his two adult children, and the English theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, who trained for his voyage by taking a zero-gravity airplane flight in 2007, thereby becoming the first quadriplegic to experience weightlessness.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Call on the first business day of the month three months preceding your desired date ( for instance, any date in June 2003 can be reserved beginning on March 3) Sometimes people holding reservations cancel, making a visit on short notice possible.

The New York Times

Besides, the disaster proclamation caused 'many skiers holding reservations in the Green Mountain State's lodges to.

The New York Times

Sentencing her at Birmingham crown court, the judge Melbourne Inman made it clear he held reservations about her version of events.

The Guardian

Many passengers holding reservations for yesterday's flights said they stayed up into the middle of the night to learn whether their flights would depart.

The New York Times

Barack Obama has given the strongest indication to date that he holds reservations about the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, saying the project would not create many jobs and could raise gasoline prices.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about formal arrangements, use "hold reservations" to ensure clarity about maintaining existing bookings or agreements. For instance, "The airline will hold reservations for 24 hours without payment."

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "hold reservations" (maintaining a booking) with "have reservations" (expressing doubts or concerns). For example, "Some people "have reservations" about the plan, but we still need to "hold all reservations" for the venue."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hold reservations" functions as a verb phrase where "hold" is the verb and "reservations" is the noun, acting as the direct object. This phrase is often used to describe the action of maintaining or keeping existing bookings. Ludwig AI confirms this usage, providing several examples where the phrase is used in this manner.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hold reservations" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression that means to maintain existing bookings or arrangements. Ludwig AI analysis indicates its appropriateness across various contexts, particularly in News & Media, Science and Encyclopedias. While it's essential not to confuse it with the similar-sounding phrase ""have reservations"", understanding its specific meaning and application ensures clear and effective communication. Alternatives like "keep reservations" or "maintain reservations" can be used to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keep reservations

Replaces "hold" with "keep", maintaining the core meaning of maintaining reservations.

maintain reservations

Substitutes "hold" with "maintain", emphasizing the act of preserving existing reservations.

honor reservations

Focuses on the act of respecting and fulfilling the existing reservations, rather than simply maintaining them.

uphold reservations

Similar to "honor reservations", but suggests a more formal or obligated commitment to the reservations.

have reservations

Shifts the focus to the state of possessing reservations, rather than the act of maintaining them.

possess reservations

A more formal way of saying "have reservations", emphasizing ownership or control of the reservations.

retain reservations

Highlights the act of keeping the reservations despite potential changes or challenges.

secure reservations

Focuses on the act of ensuring that reservations are firmly in place, rather than simply maintaining existing ones.

confirm reservations

Emphasizes the act of verifying the reservations, ensuring they are valid and recognized.

manage reservations

Expands the meaning to include the broader task of overseeing and coordinating reservations.

FAQs

How is "hold reservations" used in a sentence?

The phrase "hold reservations" indicates that someone maintains existing bookings or arrangements. For example, "The hotel will "hold reservations" until 6 PM."

What is the difference between ""have reservations"" and "hold reservations"?

"Have reservations" means to have doubts or concerns about something, while "hold reservations" means to maintain an existing booking or arrangement. They are distinct in meaning and usage.

Which is correct, "hold reservations" or "make reservations"?

Both phrases are correct, but they have different meanings. "Make reservations" refers to the act of creating a new booking, while "hold reservations" refers to maintaining an existing one.

What can I say instead of "hold reservations"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "keep reservations", "maintain reservations", or "retain reservations" to convey the same meaning of maintaining existing bookings.