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.
While Switzerland retained the No. 3 spot, it fell to the seventh place—from fifth last year—in terms of innovation and technology leadership, according to the report.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
Then there is Carol Kazeem, 34, a Pennsylvania state legislator of Nigerian heritage who has retained her seat at District 159.
From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026
Gross margins measure the percentage of revenue retained after the company pays for the costs of making its products.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 3, 2026
Even the smallest objects appear to have retained surface characteristics resembling those of their larger counterparts.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 2, 2026
The windows, blind and black, retained their look of dull emptiness.
From "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles
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