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
James Pearce, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
It's been determined that coffee's bioactive properties are retained when caffeine is removed from the beans to make decaffeinated coffee.
—Katie Wilkinson, Verywell Health, 21 Oct. 2025
The government’s theory echoes earlier criticism from the Justice Department’s 2019 Inspector General report, which found that Comey retained and shared some of those memos improperly, though that report did not recommend criminal prosecution at the time.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Although the pair announced their separation in March 1992 and officially divorced four years later, Fergie then retained the title.
—Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
The two separated in 1992, and divorced in 1996, but Ferguson has retained the title.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 21 Oct. 2025
Elite-level play from the man who retained his crown as the finest running back in the land Sunday.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 20 Oct. 2025
Another important benefit, the researchers noted, is that the new molecules retained the same benefits of vitamin K and vitamin A while showing stronger brain-cell activity.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025
He was moved out of that role in 2004 after an overhaul of Disney’s TV operations, but still retained oversight of ABC News, ad sales and affiliate relations.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Wirtz simply has to be retained after contributing two assists.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
It's been determined that coffee's bioactive properties are retained when caffeine is removed from the beans to make decaffeinated coffee.
—Katie Wilkinson, Verywell Health, 21 Oct. 2025
The government’s theory echoes earlier criticism from the Justice Department’s 2019 Inspector General report, which found that Comey retained and shared some of those memos improperly, though that report did not recommend criminal prosecution at the time.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Although the pair announced their separation in March 1992 and officially divorced four years later, Fergie then retained the title.
—Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
The two separated in 1992, and divorced in 1996, but Ferguson has retained the title.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 21 Oct. 2025
Elite-level play from the man who retained his crown as the finest running back in the land Sunday.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 20 Oct. 2025
Another important benefit, the researchers noted, is that the new molecules retained the same benefits of vitamin K and vitamin A while showing stronger brain-cell activity.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025
He was moved out of that role in 2004 after an overhaul of Disney’s TV operations, but still retained oversight of ABC News, ad sales and affiliate relations.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retained
Verb
-
Yes, if your lease states that a fine will be charged for windows that are kept open during the winter.—
Tamia Fowlkes,
jsonline.com,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Potted hardy hibiscus can be overwintered indoors and kept at 55ºF with three hours of direct full sunlight a day.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Police say the fake was likely a copy from the 20th century owned by an 84-year-old Swiss woman, who is now also under investigation by German and Swiss authorities.—
NPR,
NPR,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Remember, the guy who owned Studio 54?—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This can likely be traced back to Gian Piero Gasperini’s arrival in Serie A with Genoa in 2007, using a back-three system to counteract the prevailing, narrow 4-3-1-2 shape that was commonly employed in Italy.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
-
The report also notes European Social Surveys – tracking public attitudes, beliefs and behavior – which show that there is a 25% chance unemployed people at the lowest levels of jobless benefits will vote for the far right versus 15% for those who are employed.—
Ana Nicolaci da Costa,
CNN Money,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
At age nine, she was offered the lead role of a possessed girl in the 1973 film The Exorcist.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
7 Oct. 2025
-
The Nun pops out of a wall, a demon appears on a bed, crosses start to spin, a possessed figure scampers across the ceiling and a man with an axe cornered me in a random closet.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Sep. 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
-
The ones at the high-dollar games cited in the indictment could read cards and predict which player had the best hand.—
Rob Wile,
NBC news,
24 Oct. 2025
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The commission has had traps and game cameras in the area since shortly after the attack occurred, Stephens said in Thursday's news release.—
Bill Bowden,
Arkansas Online,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In 1873 twenty-two-year-old Edward Walter Maunder was hired as the spectroscopic assistant for this program.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Woodward was the one who hired Fisher at Texas A&M.—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Emphasizing research and measurable outcomes, their philanthropy also reflects a broader belief that wealth should be used in real time—not preserved for future generations.—
Jessica Coacci,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
-
This was made possible by a process called clay templating, in which the external fleshy surface of the dinosaur was preserved over the skeleton after burial by a thin clay mask no more than 1/100th of an inch thick.—
Abhishek Bhardwaj,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Retained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retained. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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