1
as in to keep
to continue to have in one's possession or power
I plan to retain the family heirlooms until my own children are mature enough to appreciate them, and then I will lovingly pass them on
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to have
to keep, control, or experience as one's own
that author retains the right to veto any changes in his books suggested by his publisher's notoriously intrusive editor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to employ
to provide with a paying job
her neighbor retained her as a nanny for the summer, thus giving her something to do until school started again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of retain
The move west for Mount Sinai is part of the Miami Beach hospital’s plans to bring care closer to patients, a strategy to not only improve access to care but to also attract and retain new patients.
—
Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2025
When Lampard was sacked 18 months later, replacement Tuchel insisted that Barry be retained after hearing about his work.
—Simon Hughes, The Athletic, 23 Mar. 2025
Lower yields give more concentration, while the higher elevation, averaging around 500 feet, retains high acidity.
—Cathrine Todd, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
Devil May Cry 5 (2019) retained the basis of the classic combat, but not without betting on a bigger role for its story, while pushing for a more realistic presentation all around.
—Diego Argüello, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for retain
Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2025
When Lampard was sacked 18 months later, replacement Tuchel insisted that Barry be retained after hearing about his work.
—Simon Hughes, The Athletic, 23 Mar. 2025
Lower yields give more concentration, while the higher elevation, averaging around 500 feet, retains high acidity.
—Cathrine Todd, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
Devil May Cry 5 (2019) retained the basis of the classic combat, but not without betting on a bigger role for its story, while pushing for a more realistic presentation all around.
—Diego Argüello, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for retain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retain
Verb
-
For theater lovers, the ever-changing lineup of new productions, revivals, and experimental pieces offers endless reasons to keep coming back.—
Judy Koutsky,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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Ink’s been careful about building a team that could champion her country presence while not keeping her pigeonholed in any one genre.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Devil May Cry has this raw, untamed cool that most video games can’t touch.—
Ollie Barder,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
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Downsides While apple cider vinegar has potential benefits, taking it before bed can have some downsides.—
Johna Burdeos,
Health,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Following successful efforts in Indonesia, the Sheba Hope Grows™ program has grown to include a global network of more than 200 reef builders worldwide, some employing different methods catered more specifically to their environment.—
Cat Cardenas,
Variety,
10 Apr. 2025
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According to the group’s letter, these businesses account for more than $800 million in annual revenue, employing thousands of people internationally and domestically.—
Emily Burns,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The group allegedly operated within the Northeast, targeting luxury vehicles – specifically high-end SUVs – by holding victims at gunpoint or bumping the vehicles on a highway, forcing owners to exit their cars.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
10 Apr. 2025
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Does playing Coachella hold any special significance for you?—
Katie Bain,
Billboard,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Geological and mineralogical evidence shows that Mars once possessed a thicker atmosphere than the planet has today.—
Jonathan O’Callaghan,
JSTOR Daily,
10 Apr. 2025
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Experts debated the connection, but by 2001 paleontologists uncovered early whale ankle bones that possessed traits only seen among artiodactyls.—
Riley Black,
Smithsonian Magazine,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The Peace Corps, established in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy and later authorized by Congress, recruits and deploys American volunteers to support development efforts around the world.—
Will Steakin,
ABC News,
4 Apr. 2025
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Huffman is widely regarded as the leading college football recruiting insider on the West Coast.—
Christian Babcock,
Mercury News,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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She is scheduled to take office in August and will serve a 10-year term on the court, preserving its narrow 4-3 liberal majority.—
Samantha Riedel,
Them.,
2 Apr. 2025
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But underperformer and all, he’s still headed to Washington to preserve Republicans’ paper-thin majority in the U.S. House.—
David Catanese,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Also, more people at all income levels own stocks through 401(k) plans, said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist of CFRA.—
Paul Davidson,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2025
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His family owned the Casbah Coffee Club, where the Beatles had some of their very first gigs.—
Marina Watts,
People.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Retain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retain. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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