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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of retain
The office of the provost will also have new authority to deal with disciplinary action against students involved in protests, although the university president retains the final decision on appeals.
—
Emma Tucker, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025
Recent audits by the city, the county and an outside firm retained through a federal court case have faulted the agency for poor contracting procedures and financial controls.
—Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2025
Right now, they are known for their cotton and that will continue, but in Egypt, the challenge is retaining labor.
—Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 20 Mar. 2025
The White House said the department will retain certain critical functions.
—Chris Megerian, Chicago Tribune, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for retain
Emma Tucker, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025
Recent audits by the city, the county and an outside firm retained through a federal court case have faulted the agency for poor contracting procedures and financial controls.
—Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2025
Right now, they are known for their cotton and that will continue, but in Egypt, the challenge is retaining labor.
—Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 20 Mar. 2025
The White House said the department will retain certain critical functions.
—Chris Megerian, Chicago Tribune, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for retain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retain
Verb
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The snap-down closure keeps your phone secure all day while the zippered interior has nine slots for cards, including a clear pocket for your ID.—
Clint Davis,
People.com,
23 Mar. 2025
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Of course, all of this does reinforce the importance of keeping regular backups of all your data.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Roadside Attractions, Lionsgate and independent studio LD Entertainment are circling domestic rights, though a deal has yet to close.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2025
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That event also had multiple participants listed as DNS, including 18-year-old Jordan Carr, 46-year-old Amanda Taylor, Vidolova again and 16-year-old Paula Damiens. Schreiner's appearance and subsequent wins at that event prompted criticism on social media.—
Jackson Thompson,
Fox News,
23 Mar. 2025
Verb
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In addition to chemists and biologists, the science office also employs physicians, nurses, hydrologists and experts who focus on plants, soils and wetlands.—
Lisa Friedman,
New York Times,
18 Mar. 2025
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Rather, these programs employ laudably sophisticated statistical capabilities exercised on huge amounts of data — writing, visual imagery, video, audio, or computer code — and look for patterns.—
Erik Sherman,
Forbes,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
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About two dozen people held signs lambasting the billionaire outside a dealership in London as passing cars and trucks tooted horns in support.—
Michael Liedtke,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2025
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School resource officers will hold training at the city’s schools, and quarterly training for the general community will be planned.—
Erika I. Ritchie,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Wynn-Williams’ book does possess a feature common to tell-all memoirs.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2025
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In late January, authorities arrested Christopher Kegan Williams, a Sacramento County man who has been charged with murder and possessing drugs for sale in the death of Collanton’s son, 20-year-old Spencer Newsom.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacramento Bee,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Schwartz had recruited Dyer to drive him to and from the dentist's office.—
Peter Van Sant,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2025
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Perhaps they were recruited from Trump’s central casting of the mind.—
Jessica Winter,
The New Yorker,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The hotel’s size, scale, and architectural signatures have been preserved, but the Veranda House now has updated ADA-compliant rooms and common spaces and new-and-improved amenities.—
Mae Hamilton,
Travel + Leisure,
21 Mar. 2025
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The administration has promised that certain federal education grants, including for low-income and rural schools, would be preserved.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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In fact, most are opposed to owning a Tesla — and for many of them, Musk is to blame.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2025
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After stepping back from their royal duties in 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex briefly resided in both of those locales as well, before settling at their current Californian estate—the only home that either have ever owned.—
Katie Schultz,
Architectural Digest,
27 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Retain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retain. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
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