retain

1
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

Synonym Chooser

How is the word retain distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of retain are detain, keep, reserve, and withhold. While all these words mean "to hold in one's possession or under one's control," retain implies continued keeping, especially against threatened seizure or forced loss.

managed to retain their dignity even in poverty

When is detain a more appropriate choice than retain?

The meanings of detain and retain largely overlap; however, detain suggests a delay in letting go.

detained them for questioning

When might keep be a better fit than retain?

In some situations, the words keep and retain are roughly equivalent. However, keep may suggest a holding securely in one's possession, custody, or control.

keep this while I'm gone

When can reserve be used instead of retain?

The words reserve and retain are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, reserve suggests a keeping in store for future use.

reserve some of your energy for the last mile

In what contexts can withhold take the place of retain?

The words withhold and retain can be used in similar contexts, but withhold implies restraint in letting go or a refusal to let go.

withheld information from the authorities

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of retain The hydrogen is retained for the fuel synthesis process, while the oxygen is safely released into the environment. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2025 On the other hand, some drivers may avoid vehicles that rapidly depreciate to retain some trade-in value or sell their cars later on. Charles Singh, USA Today, 14 June 2025 As for the secondary, the Eagles didn't retain a handful of names. Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 June 2025 After nearly 90 years, the home retains its original layout, according to Brown and Elliot. David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 14 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for retain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retain
Verb
  • So Far The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time The band’s guitar-heavy music, inspired by U.K. New Wave group the Jam, is what keeps those live shows enthralling.
    Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 15 June 2025
  • Grateful for their progress and will continue to keep them in our prayers.
    Peter Aitken Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 June 2025
Verb
  • Drew cited that Formula E eco-friendly car racing now has 500 million fans as an example.
    Joan Michelson, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
  • However, it was noted that the victim had a low resting heart rate, dental phobia and had a history of fainting, which the complaint said Watkins did not investigate or document.
    Stepheny Price , Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2025
Verb
  • Becker and colleagues employed a Pavlov-like research design to figure out whether people can decouple the sensation of pain from the experience of that pain.
    Peter Ubel, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • Instead, Lloyd employed a bare stage and an ensemble of actors dressed all in black.
    Jenelle Riley, Variety, 9 June 2025
Verb
  • GoTo also holds a 22% stake in Bank Jago, an Indonesian digital bank.
    Lionel Lim, Fortune, 22 June 2025
  • Plus How to Install One to Support Pollinators 10 Plants to Grow with Zinnias for a Pollinator Friendly Garden Bee Cups: A Pollination Innovation Among the innovations gaining attention are Bee Cups: Handmade mini porcelain containers that hold a teaspoon of water for pollinators.
    Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2025
Verb
  • No monarch ever actually possessed a divine touch (or donkey ears), but historical records indicate at least two men with the name Midas oversaw the Phrygian kingdom during the first millennium BCE.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 12 June 2025
  • But my other obsessive pursuits did not possess that game-like quality, did not satisfy the thrill of the chase, of competition against myself.
    Hazlitt, Hazlitt, 11 June 2025
Verb
  • Among them was a marathon sectional championship game against Lincoln-Way Central and Florida State recruit Lisabella Dimitrijevic.
    Tony Baranek, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2025
  • The filmmaker hatched the idea after reading an article about gay rehabilitation centers and recruited Brian Wayne Peterson to write the script.
    Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 15 June 2025
Verb
  • Wash linen sheets every one to two weeks using a gentle cycle and cool to lukewarm water to preserve the fibers and prevent shrinkage.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 13 June 2025
  • The investment money is used to help create or preserve U.S. jobs.
    Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 13 June 2025
Verb
  • The private group owns Boston Legacy FC, the National Women’s Soccer League expansion team that’s under a city lease agreement to share use of Franklin Park’s White Stadium with Boston Public Schools student-athletes.
    Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 19 June 2025
  • The Ducks own nine picks across seven rounds, including two selections in both the fourth and fifth rounds.
    Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 19 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Retain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retain. Accessed 25 Jun. 2025.

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