retain
verb (used with object)
to keep possession of.
has retained
-
present perfectof retain (3rd person singular).present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
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.
Etsy has retained a recruiting firm to help find Baker’s successor.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026
“No mayor has retained the same police commissioner from the administration prior to theirs since 1964,” she said, referring to Tisch, who was elevated under the previous mayor, Eric Adams.
From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2026
Remarkably, the meteorite has retained much of its original mineral makeup despite surviving billions of years of solar system history.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 25, 2026
At least we can confirm he has retained some motor skills, and it’s possible he couldn’t hear the press yelling at him or just decided to ignore them.
From Salon ● Sep. 17, 2026
More surprising still, the ceramics in the farm’s terra preta indicate that the soil has retained its nutrients for as much as a millennium.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
