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 sponsor retains responsibility for the content and holds the copyright to their material.
—
Pismo Beach Conference and Visitor Bureau, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2025
In the aftermath, the motion states, Doe retained legal counsel and, following months of negotiations, was able to reach a settlement with Schrader’s lawyers in February of this year.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 4 Apr. 2025
Status quo supporters claim voters still choose because the appointee must run for election to retain the seat.
—Bob Marshall, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2025
His effort backfired, and the state court retained its 4-3 liberal majority.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for retain
Pismo Beach Conference and Visitor Bureau, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2025
In the aftermath, the motion states, Doe retained legal counsel and, following months of negotiations, was able to reach a settlement with Schrader’s lawyers in February of this year.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 4 Apr. 2025
Status quo supporters claim voters still choose because the appointee must run for election to retain the seat.
—Bob Marshall, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2025
His effort backfired, and the state court retained its 4-3 liberal majority.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for retain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retain
Verb
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Below are the ones that will help keep the area around your nose clear and irritation-free.—
Daley Quinn,
Glamour,
15 Apr. 2025
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Most of the soups’ packaging carried instructions to keep the soups frozen until ready to use.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The play-in tournament means you are certified to have had a mediocre season, like Miami’s 37-45.—
Greg Cote,
Miami Herald,
19 Apr. 2025
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Seven additional people involved in the collision had minor injuries.—
Amy McDaniel,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The group represents 122 dealerships that employ 12,000 workers and generated a combined $859 million in sales taxes in 2024.—
Pat Maio,
Oc Register,
13 Apr. 2025
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According to the current budget, the City Attorney’s Office employs just under 425 people and will spend $85 million this year.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Apr. 2025
Verb
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On a Thursday night in late February, friends and fans huddle around the small stage, while Badgley sits in the back holding their four year-old son, who is fast asleep.—
Kate Branch,
Vogue,
10 Apr. 2025
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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
Verb
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The final form of the galaxy, despite the illustration here, is more likely to be a gas-rich, disk-possessing galaxy than the elliptical one shown, as only a small percentage of major mergers lead to a red-and-dead, gas-free elliptical final state.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
14 Mar. 2025
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He is charged with one count of transferring or possessing an unregistered machine gun.—
Jason Green,
The Mercury News,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Hailing from San Jose, California, she’s risen through the soccer ranks: She was recruited by Stanford University and four years later drafted number one in the 2022 NWSL Draft.—
Alexandra York,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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Coach Brandon Hopkins called her one of the best pitchers in the nation and expects her to be recruited by top division one programs.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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As Donatella Versace prepares to step into her new role as Global Ambassador, there is hope that the Prada Group will honor and preserve the brand’s familial legacy, keeping the spirit of the Versace family alive at its core.—
Mecca Pryor,
Essence,
14 Apr. 2025
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Currently, visitors to Maui can assist in restoring and preserving the island’s cultural and archaeological sites with Maui Cultural Lands or participate in cleanup events and invasive species removal with Malama Maui Nui.—
Shoshi Parks,
Smithsonian Magazine,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Salah Salah, who owns the store with his parents, said his biggest challenge is figuring out what supplies to order and how much.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
21 Apr. 2025
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The pair, who had previously built bombs on a farm owned by Nichols’ brother, began gathering the materials needed to blow up a large-scale building.—
Alex Gurley,
People.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Retain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retain. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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