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
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
David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 7 Mar. 2026
Its homeliness is also its wealth—small and bricked, perhaps no longer functioning in its original capacity as a home to farmers but retaining a gift for earthy pleasures by keeping green, by keeping humble.
—Literary Hub, 5 Mar. 2026
Remember, the Pacers losing this game helps their odds of retaining their first-round pick.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé unveiled a major reshufflng of his cabinet on Tuesday, retaining just five ministers in a new government largely consisting of untested figures endorsed by political parties and groups that recently signed a sweeping national accord.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé unveiled a major reshuffling of his cabinet on Tuesday, retaining just five ministers in a new government largely consisting of untested figures endorsed by political parties and groups that recently signed a sweeping national accord.
—Jacqueline Charles, Sun Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2026
Vancouver retaining 50% of Myers’ salary this year and next is critical, especially as Dallas’ cap situation beyond this summer is largely up in the air until a decision is made on Jason Robertson’s future.
—Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas Morning News, 4 Mar. 2026
And perhaps the Nilgiri has something complimentary to say, too, by return of gaze about Bensley’s lovely interiors, which use warm colors and the symbolic palette of Tibetan Buddhism while retaining a quirkiness and insouciance.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Feb. 2026
Maduro's lawyer, Barry Pollack, filed the court documents in federal court in New York City, claiming the government's action is preventing his client from retaining counsel of his choice and receiving a fair defense.
—Chloe Atkins, NBC news, 27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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
Despite the institutional changes, the National Symphony Orchestra is retaining its decadeslong residency.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 7 Mar. 2026
Its homeliness is also its wealth—small and bricked, perhaps no longer functioning in its original capacity as a home to farmers but retaining a gift for earthy pleasures by keeping green, by keeping humble.
—Literary Hub, 5 Mar. 2026
Remember, the Pacers losing this game helps their odds of retaining their first-round pick.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé unveiled a major reshufflng of his cabinet on Tuesday, retaining just five ministers in a new government largely consisting of untested figures endorsed by political parties and groups that recently signed a sweeping national accord.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé unveiled a major reshuffling of his cabinet on Tuesday, retaining just five ministers in a new government largely consisting of untested figures endorsed by political parties and groups that recently signed a sweeping national accord.
—Jacqueline Charles, Sun Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2026
Vancouver retaining 50% of Myers’ salary this year and next is critical, especially as Dallas’ cap situation beyond this summer is largely up in the air until a decision is made on Jason Robertson’s future.
—Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas Morning News, 4 Mar. 2026
And perhaps the Nilgiri has something complimentary to say, too, by return of gaze about Bensley’s lovely interiors, which use warm colors and the symbolic palette of Tibetan Buddhism while retaining a quirkiness and insouciance.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Feb. 2026
Maduro's lawyer, Barry Pollack, filed the court documents in federal court in New York City, claiming the government's action is preventing his client from retaining counsel of his choice and receiving a fair defense.
—Chloe Atkins, NBC news, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retaining
Noun
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Of note is that Strome, who had no trade protection and whose contract was jettisoned without salary retention, made $5 million against the cap this year and next.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Mulch conserves moisture, improves water retention, suppresses weed growth, insulates and protects rose roots and enriches the soil with organic matter.—
Rita Perwich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Everyone’s broken, so the collective strength of the cast in keeping us on our toes about where this is all headed is a huge plus.—
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
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With so many players in the WBC, the Royals will be keeping a close eye on all the different games in pool play.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Amphitheaters are a huge part of Live Nation’s business, with the company owning about 150 across the country.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
10 Mar. 2026
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That’s how Netflix goes from selling CPMs on dramas to owning an entirely new premium ad category.—
Max Cutler,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Those lackluster results have come despite employing both Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, two of the best players of their generation.—
Matt Moret,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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And autonomous drones are on the frontlines in the Russia-Ukraine war, with both Russia and Ukraine employing some variation of autonomous technology.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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These audits compare physical vault holdings with custody records to ensure the metals listed in investor accounts actually exist in storage.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
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That’s a problem when the case’s sole job is to keep food at or above 135 degrees for safe hot holding.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But Idaho’s defense came up big, preserving the title.—
Rachel Roberts,
Idaho Statesman,
12 Mar. 2026
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The Gettysburg National Military Park encompasses nearly 6,000 acres of land, preserving the site of the Battle of Gettysburg.—
Madeline Bartos,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Bradbury said having an identity is key in this league, and likes the physical brand of football played in head coach Ben Johnson's offense.—
Matt Zahn,
CBS News,
13 Mar. 2026
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Aiding a teenager slumped on the ground having a medical episode this month led to North Miami Beach officers learning that a Miami Gardens man had been raping her for at least the last two years — a discovery that her mother had long since made, authorities say.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Mass layoffs in the tech industry started in 2022, after a hiring surge during the pandemic, when demand for online services increased as people were stuck at home.—
Queenie Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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The conditions that apparently make reskilling cheaper than hiring at Standard Chartered may not be replicable at scale across industries.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retaining. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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