retain Hear it!

retain Definition

re·tain (ri tān′)

transitive verb

  1. to hold or keep in possession
  2. to keep in a fixed state or condition
  3. to continue to have or hold in to retain heat
  4. to continue to practice, use, etc.
  5. to keep in mind
  6. to hire, or arrange in advance for the services of, by paying a retainer

Etymology: ME reteynen < OFr retenir < LL *retenere, for L retinere < re-, back + tenere, to hold: see thin

retain Related Forms
re·tain′·able adjective re·tain′·ment noun
retain Synonyms

retain

v.

  1. To hold

    cling to, grasp, clutch; see hold 1.

  2. To keep

    preserve, put away, husband; see maintain 3.

  3. To reserve services

    employ, hire, engage; see hire 1.

  4. To remember

    keep in mind, learn, recall; see remember 1, 2.

retain Usage Examples

Object

  • moisture: They improve the soil with organic matter instead to help retain the moisture.
  • ownership: Their licensing deal, which lets The Artist retain ownership of his master tapes, is a flirtation, not a marriage.
  • copyright: Back to top Who retains copyright for the Audit?
  • wall: The filter beds have blue brick retaining walls with stone edges.
  • charm: During refurbishment in 2005, the hotel has retained the original victorian charm and character.
  • possession: They responded with alacrity, marching into Mercia at the head of an army, but the Danes retained possession of the town.

Adjective complement

  • many: We have made every effort to retain many of the original features.
  • most: It was built in 1849 and has hardly changed since then, so has retained most of its period features.

Modifying Another Word

  • still: Why do text-based games still retain the enormous appeal they have?
  • permanently: Major trophy winners retain the appropriate trophy for one year and also receive a commemorative plaque to retain permanently.
  • centrally: OCUs will therefore have this element of the growth budget retained centrally to meet the respective training cost.
  • much: The mature trees will remain, with raised lawns being added beneath these to retain much of the green space.
  • securely: All other information will be securely retained and used by Wren Laboratories Ltd. for analysis, product development, quality assurance and marketing purposes.

Used with why or when

  • wherever: As such, the Council wishes to see existing trees retained wherever possible.

Present participle complement

  • exist: The move to MHS will retain existing staff categories.

Preposition: in

  • memory: Often catchy phrases are used in the musical lyrics as they are retained in the audiences' memories for longer than spoken words.

Preposition: from

  • refund: For larger variations this 2 % will still be absorbed for increases but not retained from refunds.

Preposition: for

  • purpose: ATCSA enables data to be retained for national security purposes, which ought to be compatible with the Human Rights Act.
  • period: Every fact in geology proclaims that neither the land, nor the bed of the sea retain for indefinite periods the same level.
  • reference: All trainees will receive a comprehensive set of user notes, which may be retained for future reference.