retain

verb

ri-ˈtān How to pronounce retain (audio)
Definition of retainnext
1
as in to keep
to continue to have in one's possession or power I plan to retain the family heirlooms until my own children are mature enough to appreciate them, and then I will lovingly pass them on

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to have
to keep, control, or experience as one's own that author retains the right to veto any changes in his books suggested by his publisher's notoriously intrusive editor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to employ
to provide with a paying job her neighbor retained her as a nanny for the summer, thus giving her something to do until school started again

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word retain distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of retain are detain, keep, reserve, and withhold. While all these words mean "to hold in one's possession or under one's control," retain implies continued keeping, especially against threatened seizure or forced loss.

managed to retain their dignity even in poverty

When is detain a more appropriate choice than retain?

The meanings of detain and retain largely overlap; however, detain suggests a delay in letting go.

detained them for questioning

When might keep be a better fit than retain?

In some situations, the words keep and retain are roughly equivalent. However, keep may suggest a holding securely in one's possession, custody, or control.

keep this while I'm gone

When can reserve be used instead of retain?

The words reserve and retain are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, reserve suggests a keeping in store for future use.

reserve some of your energy for the last mile

In what contexts can withhold take the place of retain?

The words withhold and retain can be used in similar contexts, but withhold implies restraint in letting go or a refusal to let go.

withheld information from the authorities

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of retain As part of the transition, Bezos retained the title of executive chairman. —Annie Palmer, CNBC, 22 May 2025 The city has retained Shutts & Bowen for various legal matters in recent years. —Tess Riski, Miami Herald, 22 May 2025 Agency Cuts and Accelerated Development The balance of the natural-resources portion of the budget bill retains many of the elements on its initial draft. —Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 22 May 2025 All is classified as Extra Virgin, meaning a relatively low temperature was used during production to retain aromas. —Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for retain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retain
  1. keep
  2. have
  3. employ
  4. hold
  5. possess
  6. recruit
  7. preserve
  8. own
Verb
  • Cruising Altitude: Air traffic control keeps planes moving.
    — Zach Wichter, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • Ramirez ended up paying Vega $5,000 and his insurance company paid him another $20,000 — but Ramirez kept the business, assets and trademark.
    — Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 22 May 2025
Definition of keep
Verb
  • As symbols of Floyd’s place in history have faded, so too have hopes for federal police reform, commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion and American optimism about the future of racial justice.
    — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 25 May 2025
  • However, my hand has real diamond support, with even the club jack potentially pulling its weight, and my spades are poor.
    — Deb Harvell, Arkansas Online, 25 May 2025
Definition of have
Verb
  • As of March 2025, Burberry employed approximately 8,700 people, nearly 500 fewer than the 9,200 employed in 2024.
    — Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
  • China has been employing its navy to further expand its military reach and presence, challenging America's naval dominance in the Pacific Ocean.
    — Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
Definition of employ
Verb
  • Kelly holds a political science degree from Wichita State University.
    — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2025
  • Manufacturing has been on the decline in the United States, with only 8% of American workers holding jobs in that sector as of earlier this year compared to roughly 26% in 1970, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, And a lot has changed since 1970.
    — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 28 May 2025
Definition of hold
Verb
  • The countries each possess about 170 nuclear weapons, according to the think-tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
    — Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 May 2025
  • In addition to their easily identifiable personas, these faces must possess genuine leadership qualities and backgrounds to guide the movement in the right direction.
    — Katelyn Hutchison, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Definition of possess
Verb
  • The party needs not just to recruit younger candidates.
    — Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025
  • But Atkins also felt the impact that the transfer portal has had on recruiting, particularly for incoming freshmen.
    — Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 21 May 2025
Definition of recruit
Verb
  • The approved budget would preserve the portion of the program for those 65 and older, allocating $110 million for that coverage.
    — Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2025
  • For You, these acts are attempts to preserve art’s political orientation as left-wing and capitalism-critical—albeit produced under extreme capitalist conditions and in full awareness of that cognitive dissonance.
    — Diedrich Diederichsen, Artforum, 1 June 2025
Definition of preserve
Verb
  • Low-income housing in Idaho can be exempt from taxation only if it’s owned and managed by a nonprofit.
    — Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 26 May 2025
  • Less than a day later, a crypto venture owned by the Trump family auctioned off a dinner with the President at one of his golf clubs.
    — Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
Definition of own

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retails
retain
retained
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Cite this Entry

“Retain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retain. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

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