retained; retaining; retains
1
a
: to keep in possession or use
retaining old customs
The landlord may retain the deposit for any damage.
b
: to keep in one's pay or service
trying to retain good employees
c
: to keep in mind or memory : remember
a remarkable ability to retain odd facts
2
: to hold secure or intact
cover to retain moisture
Examples of retain in a Sentence
A landlord may retain part of your deposit if you break the lease.
They insisted on retaining old customs.
You will retain your rights as a citizen.
The TV show has retained its popularity for many years.
The company's goal is to attract and retain good employees.
The team failed to retain him, and he became a free agent.
They have decided to retain a firm to conduct a survey.
You may need to retain an attorney.
Recent Examples on the Web
At the core of the formula is prebiotic oat, which supports barrier function by helping skin retain moisture and stay balanced through daily cleansing.
—
Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 1 Jan. 2026
Glenn is only in his first season as head coach, but rumors have differed on whether he will be retained for 2026.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 1 Jan. 2026
Agibot reengineered its Quasi-Direct Drive joints, now smaller than an egg, to retain precise force control and fast dynamic response, enabling the Q1 to move intentionally.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 1 Jan. 2026
Whatever happens, for now, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle still retain their titles and likely would at least until Prince William ascends to the throne.
—Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 1 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for retain
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Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 1 Jan. 2026
Glenn is only in his first season as head coach, but rumors have differed on whether he will be retained for 2026.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 1 Jan. 2026
Agibot reengineered its Quasi-Direct Drive joints, now smaller than an egg, to retain precise force control and fast dynamic response, enabling the Q1 to move intentionally.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 1 Jan. 2026
Whatever happens, for now, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle still retain their titles and likely would at least until Prince William ascends to the throne.
—Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 1 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for retain
Cite this Entry
“Retain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retain. Accessed 4 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
retain
verb
re·tain
ri-ˈtān 
1
a
: to keep in possession or use
you will retain your rights as a citizen
b
: to keep in pay or in one's service
especially
: to employ by paying a retainer
retain an attorney
c
: remember sense 3
I can't retain phone numbers
2
: to hold secure or unchanged
land retains heat longer than water
Medical Definition
retain
transitive verb
re·tain
ri-ˈtān
1
: to hold or keep in
retain fluids
2
: to keep in mind or memory
Legal Definition
retain
transitive verb
re·tain
ri-ˈtān
1
: to keep in possession or use
2
: to keep in one's pay or service
specifically
: to employ (as a lawyer) by paying a retainer
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