Synonyms of retained

retained 1 of 2

adjective

as in possessed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• possessed
• owned
• protected
• loved
• valued
• cherished
• treasured
• prized

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• gone
• lost
• misplaced
• missing
• absent
• mislaid
• irretrievable
• irrecoverable
• castaway

retained

2 of 2

verb

past tense of retain

1

as in kept

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

• kept
• held
• preserved
• possessed
• withheld
• saved
• reserved
• had
• protected
• conserved
• owned
• enjoyed
• guarded
• held on to
• boasted
• managed
• hung on to
• controlled
• ruled
• detained
• directed
• bore
• cherished
• clung (to)
• commanded
• hugged
• harbored
• treasured

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• released
• yielded
• surrendered
• abandoned
• dropped
• gave
• contributed
• relinquished
• ceded
• gave up
• donated
• discarded
• lost
• handed over
• rejected
• dumped
• declined
• repudiated
• handed out
• spurned

2

as in owned

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

• owned
• had
• possessed
• enjoyed
• held
• commanded
• kept
• withheld
• reserved
• rejoiced in
• carried
• boasted
• bore
• sported
• showed off

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lacked
• wanted
• abandoned
• relinquished
• yielded
• surrendered
• ceded
• renounced
• discarded
• dumped
• handed over
• required
• rejected
• needed
• declined
• disclaimed
• repudiated
• disowned
• spurned

3

as in employed

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

• employed
• hired
• recruited
• engaged
• placed
• paid
• enlisted
• signed (up or on)
• assumed
• laid on
• feed
• took on
• rehired
• reemployed
• contracted
• promoted
• re-engaged
• partnered
• subcontracted
• reengaged
• upgraded
• re-employed
• jobbed
• apprenticed
• kept (on)
• scouted
• advanced
• headhunted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dismissed
• discharged
• fired
• canned
• sacked
• laid off
• axed
• locked out
• furloughed

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of retained

Verb

Leicester have retained their former men’s training ground, Belvoir Drive, just outside the city centre, which is situated in a housing estate, and there is so far no information on the Land Registry of a sale. —Rob Tanner, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025

Producers hold onto their rights and their IP and the value from our spend is retained in the UK, not across the Atlantic. —Jake Kanter, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2025

He was then retained by Steichen for the past two years, but the team’s statistical slide on defense resulted in his firing. —James Boyd, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025

County Attorney Scott McClure was retained for 2025. —Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2025

Indianapolis came up one win short of the playoffs and Bradley was retained for a third season. —James Boyd, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025

The rest is retained by the agency, to pay its coordinators, translators and legal advisers, and the clinics that oversee the fertilization and pregnancy. —Lili Rutai, The Dial, 7 Jan. 2025

President Jim Biggs, of the North District, retained his office after Morales nominated him, and Vice President Barb Regnitz, of the Center District, seconded the motion. —Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2025

Alabama retained almost the entirety of its starters from last season, and Smith appears to be a budding star after a strong end to the 2024 season. —Kennington Smith Iii, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025