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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of retained
Mike Kaye
september 10, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
Fixed and variable factory labor is carefully managed, with core labor retained full-time and trade labor flexed as needed.
—Jennifer Castenson, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The new company retained the Six Flags name.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
WellChild is a patronage that Harry retained following his step back from his royal role, and he is expected to make a speech and present an award at the charity's awards ceremony on Monday.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Some participants retained many donor strains, others very few.
—New Atlas, 7 Sep. 2025
Until now, Scripps’ imaging has been conducted with traditional nuclear medicine gamma cameras that indicate where the drug is in the body, but not how much of the dose ends up being retained.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025
Here are all the times a team has retained the trophy, with Madrid in 2017 the first to do so in the Champions League era.
—Will Jeanes, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
That may be true of Nike, but not Adidas, which has retained nearly all of its elite tennis talent.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Canales retained Evero in 2024 with the thought that the defensive coordinator would essentially be the head coach of the defense.
—Mike Kaye
september 10, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
Fixed and variable factory labor is carefully managed, with core labor retained full-time and trade labor flexed as needed.
—Jennifer Castenson, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The new company retained the Six Flags name.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
WellChild is a patronage that Harry retained following his step back from his royal role, and he is expected to make a speech and present an award at the charity's awards ceremony on Monday.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Some participants retained many donor strains, others very few.
—New Atlas, 7 Sep. 2025
Until now, Scripps’ imaging has been conducted with traditional nuclear medicine gamma cameras that indicate where the drug is in the body, but not how much of the dose ends up being retained.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025
Here are all the times a team has retained the trophy, with Madrid in 2017 the first to do so in the Champions League era.
—Will Jeanes, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
That may be true of Nike, but not Adidas, which has retained nearly all of its elite tennis talent.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retained
Verb
-
For the past 25 years, the Roadless Area Conservation Rule has kept vital forests and grassland safe from bulldozers, saws, excavators and drilling equipment.—
Ryan Gellert,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Head coach Éric Chelle, tasked with steadying the ship after recent stumbles, kept his cards close.—
Sindiswa Mabunda,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The store, owned by Spencer Allen and Tracy Quigley, sells plants, hydroponics kits, vintage books, and handmade items.—
Erik S. Hanley,
jsonline.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The requirement for Staveley to clarify her intentions is because of the fact that 13 per cent of the shares in Tottenham Hotspur Limited — those not owned by ENIC — are in theory publicly tradable.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This comes one day after the BLS said there were nearly 1 million fewer people employed for the year ended in March than previously reported as part of the agency’s annual revisions.—
Elisabeth Buchwald,
CNN Money,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Russian and Ukrainian drones both routinely go off course due to electronic warfare measures employed by both sides.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
As possessed people speak in foreign tongues and violence rises, Ahmed fears regaining memory, while the disciple fears his master’s decline may unleash an ancient evil.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
28 Aug. 2025
-
The real-life doll itself is an old Raggedy Ann, which is said to be one of the most possessed items the Warrens owned.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The rapper, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, has been held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center since he was arrested in September 2024.—
Daniel S. Levine,
People.com,
6 Aug. 2025
-
That means every state budget could be held hostage until the whims of a small fraction of legislators is satisfied.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Savage is a former child star who had his breakout role in the 1987 film The Princess Bride.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Brazzell had another touchdown later in the game on a hook-and-lateral in the fourth.—
Cody Thorn,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In the film — her first since portraying opera diva Maria Callas in last year’s Maria — the Oscar winner, 50, stars as Maxine, an American film director hired to make a video for a Paris fashion event amid being diagnosed with breast cancer and navigating a divorce.—
Eric Andersson,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Yet, the defense was a reflection of what new coordinator Al Golden promised and has spoken about at every opportunity possible since he was hired.—
Paul Dehner Jr,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Eagles preserved a 24-20 lead.—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Loftis, formerly of Duke, had several nice throws, but ended both last-ditch marches with interceptions, as UNC’s defense preserved its no-touchdown night.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Retained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retained. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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