Reserved vs. Private

simple past tense and past participle of reserve

(comparable) Slow to reveal emotion or opinions.

Example: ‘He was a quiet, reserved person.’;

(not comparable) Set aside for a particular person or purpose.

Example: ‘I'm sorry, sir, but these are reserved seats.’;

Kept for future or special use, or for an exigency; as, reserved troops; a reserved seat in a theater.

Restrained from freedom in words or actions; backward, or cautious, in communicating one's thoughts and feelings; not free or frank.

Example: ‘To all obliging, yet reserved to all.’; ‘Nothing reserved or sullen was to see.’;

set aside for the use of a particular person or party

marked by self-restraint and reticence;

Example: ‘was habitually reserved in speech, withholding her opinion’;

cool and formal in manner

slow to reveal emotion or opinions

Example: ‘he is a reserved, almost taciturn man’;

kept specially for a particular person

Example: ‘a reserved seat’;

Reserved is a Polish clothing store chain, part of LPP, which has more than 1,700 stores located in 20 countries.

Belonging to, concerning, or accessible only to an individual person or a specific group.

Example: ‘Her address is private; you can't have it.’; ‘private papers’;

Not accessible by the public.

Example: ‘private property’;

Not in governmental office or employment.

Example: ‘He quit public life, living quietly as a private citizen.’;

Not publicly known; not open; secret.

Example: ‘The identity of the beneficiaries of the trust is private.’;

Protected from view or disturbance by others; secluded.

Example: ‘Can we go somewhere more private?’;

Not traded by the public.

Example: ‘private corporation’;

Secretive; reserved.

Example: ‘He is a very private person.’;

Not shared with another patient.

A soldier of the lowest rank in the army.

The genitals.

(obsolete) A secret message; a personal unofficial communication.

(obsolete) Personal interest; particular business.

(obsolete) Privacy; retirement.

(obsolete) One not invested with a public office.

A private lesson.

Example: ‘If you want to learn ballet, consider taking privates.’;

Belonging to, or concerning, an individual person, company, or interest; peculiar to one's self; unconnected with others; personal; one's own; not public; not general; separate; as, a man's private opinion; private property; a private purse; private expenses or interests; a private secretary.

Sequestered from company or observation; appropriated to an individual; secret; secluded; lonely; solitary; as, a private room or apartment; private prayer.

Example: ‘Reason . . . then retiresInto her private cell when nature rests.’;

Not invested with, or engaged in, public office or employment; as, a private citizen; private life.

Example: ‘A private person may arrest a felon.’;

Not publicly known; not open; secret; as, a private negotiation; a private understanding.

Having secret or private knowledge; privy.

A secret message; a personal unofficial communication.

Personal interest; particular business.

Example: ‘Nor must I be unmindful of my private.’;

Privacy; retirement.

One not invested with a public office.

Example: ‘What have kings, that privates have not too?’;

A common soldier; a soldier below the grade of a noncommissioned officer.

The private parts; the genitals.

an enlisted man of the lowest rank;

Example: ‘our prisoner was just a private and knew nothing of value’;

confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy;

Example: ‘a private place’; ‘private discussions’; ‘private lessons’; ‘a private club’; ‘a private secretary’; ‘private property’; ‘the former President is now a private citizen’; ‘public figures struggle to maintain a private life’;

concerning things deeply private and personal;

Example: ‘private correspondence’; ‘private family matters’;

concerning one person exclusively;

Example: ‘we all have individual cars’; ‘each room has a private bath’;

not expressed;

Example: ‘secret (or private) thoughts’;

belonging to or for the use of one particular person or group of people only

Example: ‘his private plane’; ‘all bedrooms have private facilities’;

(of a conversation, activity, or gathering) involving only a particular person or group, and often dealing with matters that are not to be disclosed to others

Example: ‘this is a private conversation’; ‘a small private service in the chapel’;

(of thoughts and feelings) not to be revealed to others

Example: ‘she felt awkward at intruding on private grief’;

(of a person) choosing not to reveal their thoughts and feelings to others

Example: ‘he was a very private man’;

(of a place) quiet and free from people who may interrupt

Example: ‘can we go somewhere a little more private?’;

(especially of two people) alone and undisturbed by others

Example: ‘we can phone from the library—we'll be private in there’;

(of a person) having no official or public role or position

Example: ‘the paintings were sold to a private collector’;

not connected with one's work or official position

Example: ‘the ambassador visited the school in a private capacity’;

(of a service or industry) provided or owned by an individual or an independent, commercial company rather than the state

Example: ‘this research was carried out by private industry’;

(of education or medical treatment) conducted outside the state system and charging fees to those who make use of it

Example: ‘private education’; ‘if I could afford it I'd go private’;

relating to or denoting a transaction between individuals and not involving commercial organizations

Example: ‘it was a private sale—no estate agent's commission’;

the lowest rank in the army, below lance corporal or private first class.

short for private parts