retained

American

[ri-teynd] / rɪˈteɪnd /

adjective

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.
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.
(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.
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.
kept in check or held in place; held back.

On completion of the dam, the retained water was diverted for irrigation via two canals.
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

the simple past tense and past participle of retain.

Other Word Forms

unretained adjective

Etymology

Origin of retained

retain ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

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.

He has retained the stereotypical Midwestern qualities of humility and consistency, fitting in well with veteran Phillies stars Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

This retained the safeguard of a human radiologist reviewing each case, while maximising the potential gains from the use of technology.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

However, most states don’t have guardrails to limit how long biometric data is retained, what it’s used for and who businesses can disclose it to.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

As a result, these cells absorbed more F. nucleatum and retained it over time, even across multiple cell generations, intensifying DNA damage and cancer-promoting effects.

From Science Daily • Mar. 19, 2026

The windows, blind and black, retained their look of dull emptiness.

From "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023