retained
Americanadjective
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not lost, destroyed, released, sold, or given away; kept.
The vendor overvalued both the sold 1,790 acres and the retained 566 acres of Green Meadows.
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kept in use or practice; continued or preserved.
We are proud of the retained traditions of entrepreneurship of our ancestors, their respectful and careful attitude to land and craft.
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(of something perceived or learned) remembered or kept in mind.
They get taught it in basic training, but without constant practice, land navigation is not a retained skill for the average soldier.
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engaged for service, often by payment of a preliminary fee.
To apply for this opportunity in confidence, send your resume and remuneration details to the retained consultants, Kirk & Paulson Consulting Ltd., for an initial interview.
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kept in check or held in place; held back.
On completion of the dam, the retained water was diverted for irrigation via two canals.
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Medicine/Medical. kept in the body, especially abnormally; not expelled or eliminated.
Three weeks after delivery I was back in the hospital, seriously ill and having a D&C to remove a retained placenta.
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of retained
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Earlier in the year Arizona retained outside counsel and set aside money for a potential lawsuit.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
Importantly, they also retained the ability to develop into functional macrophages and other related immune cells when needed.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026
There had been rumblings of frustration in criminal justice circles over policing, for which Mamdani has largely retained the status quo in New York.
From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2026
It would take about a dozen more consultations with attorneys across Southern California before the family retained Andy Miri, an L.A.-based lawyer, in mid-June.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 11, 2026
Although not in the look of the campus and village; they retained much of their dreaming summer calm.
From "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles
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