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

Other Word Forms

• retainable adjective
• retainability noun
• retainableness noun
• retainment noun
• nonretainable adjective
• nonretainment noun
• unretainable adjective
• unretaining 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

"Simply put, retaining and incentivising Elon is fundamental to Tesla achieving these goals and becoming the most valuable company in history."

From BBC

The right-back featured in every game in the successful Euro 2022 campaign - and again three years later as England retained their crown in Switzerland.

From BBC

Instead, he built the company into the vast global business it is today - and retained control of its finances and creativity.

From BBC

That is looking increasingly unlikely, given the number of counties that have publicly stated their preference for retaining a 14-game season.

From BBC

Crews have built more than two dozen retaining walls to prop up the roadway over the last three decades, he said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• absorb 
• cling to www.thesaurus.com
• contain 
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• have 
• hold 
• keep 
• maintain 
• own 
• possess 
• preserve 
• recognize