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View synonyms for

retain

[ri-teyn]

verb (used with object)

  1. to keep possession of.

    Synonyms: ,
    Antonyms: ,
  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:
  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

/ ɪˈٱɪ /

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

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • retainable adjective
  • retainability noun
  • retainableness noun
  • retainment noun
  • nonretainable adjective
  • nonretainment noun
  • unretainable adjective
  • unretaining adjective
  • ˈٲԳԳ noun
  • ˈٲԲ adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of retain1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English reteinen, from Old French retenir, from Latin پŧ “to hold back, hold fast,” equivalent to re- re- + -پŧ, combining form of ٱŧ “to hold”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of retain1

C14: from Old French retenir , from Latin پŧ to hold back, from re- + ٱŧ to hold
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Synonym Study

See keep.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

And do not discount Hovland, who came within inches of hitting his opening drive out of bounds, but retained his composure to produce a typically swashbuckling round that featured three birdies and three bogeys.

From

The Oakmont course has proved to be a challenge for the entire field and, although McIlroy has been happy with some aspects of his game, retaining focus has been an issue at times.

From

Mr Sadler, who worked for the London Fire Brigade and was a retained firefighter for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, was another member of the rugby club.

From

In fact, the entire live-action endeavor hinged on whether Toothless could be properly translated as a photorealistic dragon among human actors and physical sets, while retaining the charm of the animated movies.

From

“The media needs to film this. This will reveal paid fake thugs posing as protesters becoming violent. ….The rest of us will demonstrate our non-violent innocence and retain our Constitutional right to peaceful protest.”

From

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