1
as in keeps
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 owns
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 employs
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 retains
The 6-in-1 Perfect Pot is constructed with cast aluminum and a non-stick enamel coating that not only evenly distributes and retains heat, but also prevents food from sticking to the bottom.
—
Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 6 Oct. 2025
The 25% share that Van Kaizen retains from billings is put into marketing, invoicing, finance, legal support, and technology.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025
Despite its long-standing economic success, the genre—and the culture around it—retains the status of a defiant outsider.
—Rebecca Ackermann, The Atlantic, 5 Oct. 2025
Leaving perennials standing through the winter instead of cutting them back retains nesting material and natural hiding places for overwintering birds and pollinators.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
That's a bit like how Multimatic creates the GTD, which retains just enough Mustang shape to look familiar, but little else.
—ArsTechnica, 29 Sep. 2025
The Free Press retains editorial control of this work.
—Beki San Martin, Freep.com, 29 Sep. 2025
As a Mando spinoff, Ahsoka retains the general visual design and feel of its predecessor.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2025
The ponte material is stretchy but retains its shape, and the slim leg is a timeless silhouette.
—Shea Simmons, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 6 Oct. 2025
The 25% share that Van Kaizen retains from billings is put into marketing, invoicing, finance, legal support, and technology.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025
Despite its long-standing economic success, the genre—and the culture around it—retains the status of a defiant outsider.
—Rebecca Ackermann, The Atlantic, 5 Oct. 2025
Leaving perennials standing through the winter instead of cutting them back retains nesting material and natural hiding places for overwintering birds and pollinators.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
That's a bit like how Multimatic creates the GTD, which retains just enough Mustang shape to look familiar, but little else.
—ArsTechnica, 29 Sep. 2025
The Free Press retains editorial control of this work.
—Beki San Martin, Freep.com, 29 Sep. 2025
As a Mando spinoff, Ahsoka retains the general visual design and feel of its predecessor.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2025
The ponte material is stretchy but retains its shape, and the slim leg is a timeless silhouette.
—Shea Simmons, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retains
Verb
-
The result is a smooth airflow that keeps the parachute steady and its descent highly predictable, even under varying conditions.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Oct. 2025
-
September’s Feel-Good Food Plan will be hosted by cookbook author Casey Elsass, who is sharing the dish that keeps him connected to community during the holiday season.—
Millie Peartree,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
For an artist who now owns her entire catalog, the track lands like a victory lap disguised as a reckoning.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Ryan Svab, who co-owns Hereafter, also bartends at Buzzard’s Roost.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The health care sector accounted for 48% of that lackluster growth, expanding by about 232,000 jobs, even though the sector employs only about 11% of workers.—
Phillip Reese,
Miami Herald,
3 Oct. 2025
-
His pitch is that CRH, which employs some 80,000 people, is well-placed to benefit from a surge of investment in US infrastructure, from roads and bridges to AI data centers and microchip plants.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But Robbie, ever the scrappy guy, already sees through the naïve guise and holds the FBI Task Force agent at gun point.—
Grace Byron,
Vulture,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Excess water can wear down the glue that holds the bristles and handle together.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The expectation was that rates could move more decisively on Friday, when the monthly employment report was set for release, but the government shutdown now has that in limbo.—
Diana Olick,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The second planet from the sun has a completely inhospitable surface, with temperatures reaching 863 degrees Fahrenheit (462 degrees Celsius) and a crushing pressure underneath an oppressively thick atmosphere.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The only hires from the Muschamp (2010-11) and McElwain (2014-15) cycles to win power conference titles were Stanford promotion David Shaw, Michigan man Jim Harbaugh and Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi.—
Matt Baker,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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These hires infuse Blue Water with critical know-how to streamline production and operationalize its ASV platforms effectively.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The curse is a vengeful spirit that possesses a person in a powerful rage before claiming their life and spreading to another victim.—
Caitlin White,
Variety,
3 Oct. 2025
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Diouf, the summer signing from Slavia Prague, possesses brilliant crossing ability and his creative finery has caught the eye, while Summerville’s unpredictability in possession made Everton’s makeshift full-back Jake O’Brien endure a tough night.—
Roshane Thomas,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Now Qatar—a state that shelters Hamas leaders, bankrolls Muslim Brotherhood offshoots, and runs influence operations the world over—enjoys the protection of an American guarantee.—
Dan Perry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Mrigakshi Dixit Mrigakshi is a science journalist who enjoys writing about space exploration, biology, and technological innovations.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Retains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retains. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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