as in retention
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1
as in keeping
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
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2
as in owning
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
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3
as in employing
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
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Recent Examples of retaining
David Frum, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
Pack a blanket or a warm outer layer Older people have a harder time producing, retaining, and circulating body heat.
—Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026
Lynch retaining seems likely, but Bella’s presence brings nostalgia and star power for the international audience.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Laura Einhorn, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
Network changes Though Fox is retaining rights to a Saturday package, a league championship series and the World Series, MLB’s national TV landscape also is changing.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
The council’s action included retaining the remainder in the general fund operating reserve.
—Jim Drummond, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2026
The cuts come as Meta offers new stock options to key leaders in hopes of retaining and incentivizing top talent.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 26 Mar. 2026
During his own appearance, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon suggested lawmakers provide businesses with incentives for retaining workers.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 25 Mar. 2026
The key will be a CEO’s awareness of where AI can drive growth and revenue opportunities whilst retaining the very essential human leadership and guidance that makes each business and division unique.
—Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026
While human umps will call every pitch, each team has the ability to challenge two calls per game, retaining the challenge if successful, and have the possibility of at least one more in each extra inning.
—Ronald Blum, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
If the merger fully goes through, Nexstar would lose the KNWA station while retaining KFTA and KXNW and adding Tegna's KFSM station for their Northwest Arkansas coverage.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Mar. 2026
Noun
But we’re invited to see him as, despite these foibles, amusing and retaining, and his cynicism about everything and his lack of moral scruple is—actually, we’re invited to see this as a kind of higher wisdom.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
Pack a blanket or a warm outer layer Older people have a harder time producing, retaining, and circulating body heat.
—Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026
Lynch retaining seems likely, but Bella’s presence brings nostalgia and star power for the international audience.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Verb
Forget air conditioning and retaining dedicated teachers.
—Laura Einhorn, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
Network changes Though Fox is retaining rights to a Saturday package, a league championship series and the World Series, MLB’s national TV landscape also is changing.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
The council’s action included retaining the remainder in the general fund operating reserve.
—Jim Drummond, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2026
The cuts come as Meta offers new stock options to key leaders in hopes of retaining and incentivizing top talent.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 26 Mar. 2026
During his own appearance, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon suggested lawmakers provide businesses with incentives for retaining workers.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 25 Mar. 2026
The key will be a CEO’s awareness of where AI can drive growth and revenue opportunities whilst retaining the very essential human leadership and guidance that makes each business and division unique.
—Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026
While human umps will call every pitch, each team has the ability to challenge two calls per game, retaining the challenge if successful, and have the possibility of at least one more in each extra inning.
—Ronald Blum, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
If the merger fully goes through, Nexstar would lose the KNWA station while retaining KFTA and KXNW and adding Tegna's KFSM station for their Northwest Arkansas coverage.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retaining
Noun
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The American Federation of Government Employees joined more than 30 unions this week in urging Congress to pass the Shutdown Fairness Act, warning that funding lapses undermined employee morale, recruitment and retention.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Metaphorical thinking enhances learning by linking new concepts to familiar patterns, fostering creative problem-solving among non-experts, and aiding memory retention through vivid imagery, while expanding one's metaphor store through diverse topics can boost creativity in specialized fields.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Bulls players stopped keeping a keen eye on the standings after going winless in February.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Investors fear that the war will disrupt the Persian Gulf's energy industry for a long time, setting off a punishing wave of global inflation by keeping large amounts of oil and natural gas out of global markets.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In a court filing, the FCC has defended the Media Bureau approval, as well as its decision to grant Nexstar a waiver from a media ownership cap that limits any one entity from owning stations covering more than 39% of the country.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2026
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Together, these moves (along with owning a Popeyes restaurant franchise) show Megan’s ability to seamlessly blend music, branding, and pop culture into moments that capture attention, drive conversation…plus sales.—
Datwon Thomas,
VIBE.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Giants are in town to start a three-game series, the Padres’ first NL West games of the year, and are employing their third different leadoff hitter in four games.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
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As Adam reenters the dating world, his sister encourages him to view it as a fresh start, and scenic designer Milo Bue visually evokes the idea of a blank slate by employing off-whites and greys for Adam’s studio apartment in New York City.—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Hegseth does not have any major holdings in defense companies, according to his most recent financial disclosure reviewed by ABC News.—
Allison Pecorin,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
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Some holdings will grow faster than others.—
Doug Ashburn,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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City backers and project leaders tasked the Beltline with building or preserving 5,600 housing units at rates below market-rate while simultaneously delivering a 22-mile trail loop by the end of 2030.—
Zachary Hansen,
AJC.com,
2 Apr. 2026
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Importantly, this approach is not specific to preserving just this species of squirrel.—
Eve Bohnett,
The Conversation,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Parents love having an easy, reusable activity for restaurants, travel days, sleepovers or quiet time at home.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Blue Owl, which is unique in having two of these nontraded private credit funds, is also among the last to report redemptions.—
Leslie Picker,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Instead of complying, the suit claims, his parents responded by hiring lawyers.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
27 Mar. 2026
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Ganong also praised a provision in the bill that would require employers to offer existing employees additional hours before hiring more employees.—
Kaitlin McCallum,
Hartford Courant,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retaining. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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