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
With the Heat sending out guards Tyler Herro and Kasparas Jakucionis as part of the trade for Antetokounmpo, retaining Smith as a depth player would make sense for the Heat.
—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
26 June 2026
Many European nations have worked hard to improve buildings’ energy efficiency, but although insulation can help modulate temperatures in summer as well as winter, many homes have also been made airtight to retain heat.
—
Beth Gardiner,
The Atlantic,
26 June 2026
Companies including Google parent Alphabet (GOOGL), Facebook parent Meta Platforms (META), and The New York Times Company (NYT) have used multiple classes of stock to allow founders, families, or other insiders to retain voting control while raising money from public investors.
—
Bydavid Schepp,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
26 June 2026
With ballots still being counted, Fujimori was on track for a narrow victory
In a sea of nations led by conservatives, the left now retains power in just three key countries: Mexico, Colombia and Brazil.
—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for retain
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
26 June 2026
Many European nations have worked hard to improve buildings’ energy efficiency, but although insulation can help modulate temperatures in summer as well as winter, many homes have also been made airtight to retain heat.
—
Beth Gardiner,
The Atlantic,
26 June 2026
Companies including Google parent Alphabet (GOOGL), Facebook parent Meta Platforms (META), and The New York Times Company (NYT) have used multiple classes of stock to allow founders, families, or other insiders to retain voting control while raising money from public investors.
—
Bydavid Schepp,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
26 June 2026
With ballots still being counted, Fujimori was on track for a narrow victory
In a sea of nations led by conservatives, the left now retains power in just three key countries: Mexico, Colombia and Brazil.
—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for retain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retain
Verb
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For just $18, this set includes four cubes in different sizes, along with a shoe bag, laundry bag, and cosmetic pouch to keep every travel essential in its place.
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The app also offers travel guides and organizes your daily itinerary, keeping all your plans in one place.
Verb
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The sport has a big future because of you guys.
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The land at Aqueduct is ready to go, no need for demolition, no need to remove and remediate dangerous industrial waste like other sites have.
Verb
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Alyse Lopez-Salm, who lives in a small North Carolina town close to the military base that employs her husband, is one of the 35 million Americans who work from home.
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First, that Netanyahu will once again rely on the anti-Arab rhetoric that his party has employed for years.
Verb
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Those arrested for criminal conduct must be held accountable in our court system.
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The toys clanked, the players held their breath and onlookers whispered strategies on the sidelines – until a winner was crowned.
Verb
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Music industry experts reveal that successful artists possess crucial internal qualities beyond typical marketing tactics.
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For as long as most of us have been alive, the United States has possessed the most powerful military the world has ever seen.
Verb
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Kenya’s foreign minister flew to Moscow in March to demand that Russia stop recruiting Kenyans, describing the pipeline bringing Kenyan citizens to Russia as a human trafficking ring.
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Barcott is the co-founder and CEO of With Honor, an organization that recruits bipartisan veterans to run for office.
Verb
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Developers will preserve about 1,200 acres and plan 26 miles of trails, with portions in the Hickory Creek area.
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Georgia Tech officials said preserving capacity while modernizing the fan experience was a key goal of the project.
Verb
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Its focus is on converting and owning the datasets, Manish Agarwal, co-founder of Humyn Labs, told CNBC.
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Baby boomer empty nesters still own almost twice the share of large homes as millennial families, according to Redfin data, and many aren’t planning on leaving any time soon.
Cite this Entry
“Retain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retain. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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