retained

American  

[ri-teynd] / rɪˈteɪnd /

adjective

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. (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.

4. 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.

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

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

6. 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.

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verb

1. 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

Indian tribes retained the right to conduct Nevada-style casinos on reservations in 2000, a form of gambling that is otherwise prohibited through the state’s Constitution.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

France, who retained the title in the most dramatic of circumstances by beating England in Paris, also have four players chosen, while Italy and Scotland boast three inclusions and Wales one.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 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

Many of those who retained ACA plans are still in a 90-day grace period that allows them to keep their coverage even if they weren’t making premium payments.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

Pursuit planes were traded for additional cargo ships or retained for emergency invoice duty and small-parcel service; trucks and tanks were procured from the ground forces and used for short-distance road hauling.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller

Related Words

• maintained
• received
• saved