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
That data can be retained and used in future ways, unknown and uncontrolled by those whose biometric data has been collected.
—
Anne Toomey McKenna,
The Conversation,
30 June 2026
The challenge facing leaders goes beyond how to recruit and retain talent.
—
Sheila Callaham,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Venezuela's government, which has long retained control over access to information, offers daily casualty updates.
—
ABC News,
30 June 2026
The foundation has retained law firm WilmerHale to conduct it, with findings expected this summer.
—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for retain
Anne Toomey McKenna,
The Conversation,
30 June 2026
The challenge facing leaders goes beyond how to recruit and retain talent.
—
Sheila Callaham,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Venezuela's government, which has long retained control over access to information, offers daily casualty updates.
—
ABC News,
30 June 2026
The foundation has retained law firm WilmerHale to conduct it, with findings expected this summer.
—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for retain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retain
Verb
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For just $18, this set includes four cubes in different sizes, along with a shoe bag, laundry bag, and cosmetic pouch to keep every travel essential in its place.
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The app also offers travel guides and organizes your daily itinerary, keeping all your plans in one place.
Verb
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The landmark property celebrates the style of the sixties, when air travel still had a spark of glamor.
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The Chiefs have a world championship banner hanging atop the press box.
Verb
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Krystal McFeders, a Unified Government spokesperson, confirmed Friday night that Chism is employed by the government.
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Should economic growth threaten one of those aspects, the FOMC is employed to move in order to deliver its objectives.
Verb
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The next step in the process involves the city drafting a redevelopment plan outlining development standards before holding public hearings and seeking additional approvals.
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The handoff that seems minor may decide whether the whole plan holds.
Verb
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Music industry experts reveal that successful artists possess crucial internal qualities beyond typical marketing tactics.
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For as long as most of us have been alive, the United States has possessed the most powerful military the world has ever seen.
Verb
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At that point, college programs weren’t lining up to recruit a 187-pound pass rusher who hadn’t played a down of high school football.
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There is a warning in all of this for the companies working hardest to recruit and retain young Black talent.
Verb
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Behind Luka Doncic, the Lakers took care of Austin Reaves by agreeing to a four-year, $185-million contract that will be officially signed toward the end of the offseason to help the Lakers preserve maximum cap flexibility.
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But the circular rose garden has been preserved and maintained, and buds begin to bloom in May, continuing through the summer.
Verb
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Its focus is on converting and owning the datasets, Manish Agarwal, co-founder of Humyn Labs, told CNBC.
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Baby boomer empty nesters still own almost twice the share of large homes as millennial families, according to Redfin data, and many aren’t planning on leaving any time soon.
Cite this Entry
“Retain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retain. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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