keep in reserve

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "keep in reserve" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used 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 that may arise later."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

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 or emergency preparedness, use "keep in reserve" to emphasize the importance of having resources available for unexpected events. For example, "It's wise to keep an emergency fund in reserve to cover unexpected expenses."

Common error

Avoid using "keep in reserve" when you simply mean to store something temporarily. "Keep in reserve" implies a strategic purpose of saving for potential future need, not just general storage.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "keep in reserve" functions primarily as a verb phrase indicating the action of setting something aside for future use or in case of need. Ludwig confirms its validity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Formal & Business

18%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Science & Research

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "keep in reserve" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to describe the act of setting something aside for future use or in case of need. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's commonly used across various contexts, including news, business, and academic settings, suggesting a neutral to professional register. Its primary function is to indicate preparedness and strategic planning, making it a valuable phrase to describe resources allocated for potential future contingencies. Related phrases include "hold in reserve" and "set aside". While generally safe to use, be mindful of confusing it with simpler expressions of storage; "keep in reserve" implies a specific purpose of saving for a potential future need.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hold in reserve

Similar meaning, but emphasizes the act of holding or maintaining something for future use.

retain for future use

Formally expresses the intention of preserving something for later application.

set aside

Focuses on the act of allocating or designating something for a specific purpose in the future.

save for a rainy day

Idiomatic expression emphasizing saving for unexpected difficulties.

stockpile

Implies accumulating a large quantity of something to keep available.

maintain a surplus

Highlights the act of having an excess quantity beyond immediate needs.

have in store

Implies having something available or prepared for a future event or need.

keep on hand

Suggests having something readily available or accessible.

stash away

Implies hiding something for safekeeping and later utilization.

lay away

Suggests a more deliberate and planned act of saving for the future.

FAQs

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

You can use "keep in reserve" to describe setting aside resources for future use. For example, "The company decided to "keep in reserve" a portion of its profits for potential future investments".

What are some alternatives to "keep in reserve"?

Some alternatives to "keep in reserve" include "set aside", "hold in reserve", or "maintain a surplus" depending on the context.

Is "keep in reserve" formal or informal?

"Keep in reserve" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, making it a versatile phrase. Its formality depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure.

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

While both imply saving something for future use, ""keep in reserve"" often refers to a strategic allocation of resources, whereas "stockpile" suggests accumulating a large quantity, sometimes excessively.