retain

[ ri-teyn ]

verb (used with object)

1. to keep possession of.

   Synonyms: preserve, hold

   Antonyms: lose, loose

2. to continue to use, practice, etc.:

   to retain an old custom.

3. to continue to hold or have:

   to retain a prisoner in custody; a cloth that retains its color.

4. to keep in mind; remember.

   Antonyms: forget

5. to hold in place or position.
6. to engage, especially by payment of a preliminary fee:

   to retain a lawyer.

7. Medicine/Medical. to keep in the body, especially abnormally; fail to eliminate:

   I was referred to a specialty clinic and they discovered that I was retaining urine.

retain

/ rɪˈteɪn /

verb

1. to keep in one's possession
2. to be able to hold or contain

   soil that retains water

3. (of a person) to be able to remember (information, facts, etc) without difficulty
4. to hold in position
5. to keep for one's future use, as by paying a retainer or nominal charge

   to retain one's rooms for the holidays

6. law to engage the services of (a barrister) by payment of a preliminary fee
7. (in selling races) to buy back a winner that one owns when it is auctioned after the race
8. (of racehorse trainers) to pay an advance fee to (a jockey) so as to have prior or exclusive claims upon his services throughout the season

Derived Forms

• reˈtainment, noun
• reˈtainable, adjective

Other Words From

• re·tain·a·ble adjective
• re·tain·a·bil·i·ty [ri-tey-n, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], re·tain·a·ble·ness noun
• re·tain·ment noun
• non·re·tain·a·ble adjective
• non·re·tain·ment noun
• un·re·tain·a·ble adjective
• un·re·tain·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of retain¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English reteinen, from Old French retenir, from Latin retinēre “to hold back, hold fast,” equivalent to re- re- + -tinēre, combining form of tenēre “to hold”

Word History and Origins

Origin of retain¹

C14: from Old French retenir , from Latin retinēre to hold back, from re- + tenēre to hold

Synonym Study

See keep.

Example Sentences

He successfully leveraged skepticism about the system to aid his own ambitions to retain power.

From Washington Post

The one thing that you have to retain is being able to celebrate you and your achievements, not as contrasted to anybody else’s.

From Vox

He legally retains authority over much of her day-to-day life, though he temporarily stepped away from that role in 2019.

From Washington Post

This allows the cheese to retain its moisture and results in that smooth, Velveeta-like texture we love so much.

From Popular-Science

Researchers seem to agree that as children’s ability to retain memories emerges, their ability to recall particular events is increased when adults talk to them about what they experienced after the fact.

From Washington Post

And despite the good scholarship the authors have managed to retain the buoyancy and upbeat air attendant on most comics.

From The Daily Beast

Now both breweries are fighting to retain their half of the cake.

From The Daily Beast

We still retain the 27 November habit, through sheer gluttony more than anything else.

From The Daily Beast

Canada and the United States are the only industrialized countries that retain birthright citizenship.

From The Daily Beast

Rohrabacher though did retain the bottle for official use in his Washington, D.C. office.

From The Daily Beast

Still the King managed to retain his popularity, and in his own way attempted to ameliorate the lot of his subjects.

From Project Gutenberg

The latter, on his side, was anxious to retain Massna's affections, and at once offered him the command of the Army of Italy.

From Project Gutenberg

Since he died from cancer in the stomach, he could retain very little food.

From Project Gutenberg

Few students master these attachments thoroughly, and those who do, fail to retain them long.

From Project Gutenberg

They know where to find the coveted knowledge, but they do not possess it or retain it in their minds.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• absorb
• cling to
• contain
• enjoy
• have
• hold
• keep
• maintain
• own
• possess
• preserve
• recognize