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.
As television dominated the media landscape, CBS News Radio retained its role as what Kathan called “the background track of American history.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026
"Despite a serious deterioration of consumer finances -- largely because of gas prices and inflation, to which Walmart's core customer is very sensitive -- Walmart has retained guidance for the full fiscal year."
From Barron's • May 21, 2026
The Labour government has retained the measures and in some cases expanded on them.
From BBC • May 21, 2026
Homo floresiensis had a relatively small brain and retained physical adaptations for both climbing and upright walking, rather than being fully specialized for bipedal movement.
From Science Daily • May 18, 2026
Exception 1.—Before ing or ish, the final y is retained to prevent the doubling of the i: as, pity + ing = pitying.
From New Word-Analysis by William Swinton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
