retain
verb (used with object)
to keep possession of.
have retained
-
present perfectof retain.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.
The Brewers are the small-market overachievers, who somehow have retained their little-engine-that-could persona despite owning the best regular-season record in baseball last year.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026
Rates have since fallen, but money-market funds, which now yield 3.49% on average, according to Crane Data, have retained their appeal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
I have retained recordings, written estimates, insurance documents.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 10, 2026
It’s for the best, in the long run, that the Ethics Committee appears to have retained control over these cases amid the ongoing call for blood.
From Slate ● Apr. 16, 2026
“I have retained my citizenship. I still put up the American flag in the bar and celebrate every single Fourth of July.”
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
