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
Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Apr. 2026
But we’re invited to see him as, despite these foibles, amusing and retaining, and his cynicism about everything and his lack of moral scruple is—actually, we’re invited to see this as a kind of higher wisdom.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
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
Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
That’s why the Bulldogs placed a premium on retaining key players, including Elijah Griffin, Nate Frazier and KJ Bolden.
—Connor Riley, AJC.com, 7 May 2026
These albums are unique exercises for WiFi and his understated, malleable rapping—balancing acts for retaining his own singular style while melding with his producers’ beats.
—Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 6 May 2026
Researchers discovered that parks in South LA contained more heat-retaining materials such as artificial turf, concrete and rubber.
—Cbs La Staff, CBS News, 6 May 2026
Kraft Heinz recently introduced a version with electrolytes aimed at retaining customers as children age out of the brand.
—Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 6 May 2026
Since then, the reservation system has been tweaked repeatedly as administrators searched for a sweet spot between welcoming more visitors and retaining the peace of the great outdoors.
—Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
Sorsby retaining Kessler was first reported by The Athletic.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 6 May 2026
But even if Tampa Bay spots and develops that talent, retaining it is another challenge.
—Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 6 May 2026
Noun
The fabric is the smooth, soft feel that Lululemon is famous for, while still being breathable, sweat-wicking, and shape-retaining.
—Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Apr. 2026
But we’re invited to see him as, despite these foibles, amusing and retaining, and his cynicism about everything and his lack of moral scruple is—actually, we’re invited to see this as a kind of higher wisdom.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
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
This includes retaining at least 165 of the 177 tuition contracts that have already been signed by families as of April 27 for the 2026-27 academic year.
—Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
That’s why the Bulldogs placed a premium on retaining key players, including Elijah Griffin, Nate Frazier and KJ Bolden.
—Connor Riley, AJC.com, 7 May 2026
These albums are unique exercises for WiFi and his understated, malleable rapping—balancing acts for retaining his own singular style while melding with his producers’ beats.
—Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 6 May 2026
Researchers discovered that parks in South LA contained more heat-retaining materials such as artificial turf, concrete and rubber.
—Cbs La Staff, CBS News, 6 May 2026
Kraft Heinz recently introduced a version with electrolytes aimed at retaining customers as children age out of the brand.
—Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 6 May 2026
Since then, the reservation system has been tweaked repeatedly as administrators searched for a sweet spot between welcoming more visitors and retaining the peace of the great outdoors.
—Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
Sorsby retaining Kessler was first reported by The Athletic.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 6 May 2026
But even if Tampa Bay spots and develops that talent, retaining it is another challenge.
—Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 6 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retaining
Noun
-
The Pizza Plate is a reusable metal tray that uses heat retention to re-crisp the bottom of your slice, restoring that golden, crunchy crust every pizza lover craves.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 May 2026
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Still, the turnover in former draft picks reflects the current state of talent retention and development for both the Sky and the WNBA at large.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Here, the Sport+ drive mode does a commendable job of keeping the transmission in the meaty parts of the powerband, while dialing the dampers back to Sport achieves the right balance of body control and compliance on these less-than-perfect road surfaces.—
Bradley Iger,
Robb Report,
8 May 2026
-
However, the best way to use this week is to practice a star-hop or two, keeping sessions short and focused.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
8 May 2026
Verb
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While Miller and his colleagues note in their study that past efforts to convince gun-owning households with kids to safely store their firearms haven't succeeded, Sathya sees reasons to be optimistic in his own health system.—
Rhitu Chatterjee,
NPR,
12 May 2026
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Said also faces charges in Hennepin County — one count of first-degree assault, one count of second-degree assault and one count of owning a machine gun — in connection to the shooting.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Militant Islamist groups, such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and ISIS, have demonstrated increasing sophistication in their use of UAVs, employing them not only for reconnaissance but also for complex attack operations.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 May 2026
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However, a different metric from ADP that tracks slightly larger businesses (those employing between one and 19 people) finds an increase of 526,000 jobs last year.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
7 May 2026
Noun
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The low-hanging fruit is improving the performance of BRK’s core holdings, and maybe even shedding companies that shouldn’t be in the BRK portfolio.—
Vitaliy Katsenelson,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
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The 45-day holding period applies to new purchases as well as reinvestments, which may limit the liquidity of your portfolio as a whole.—
Colin Dodds,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Gary Stern, who served as general counsel of the National Archives for twenty-six years, collaborated with five Administrations—from Bill Clinton’s to Joe Biden’s—on preserving and releasing Presidential records.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
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According to project materials, his approach focuses on preserving the relationship between the centuries-old timber structure and the surrounding natural landscape through the use of light, shadow, wood, and stone.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
14 May 2026
Verb
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More about Richard Glossip's case Glossip is accused of having his boss, Barry Van Treese, an Oklahoma City motel owner, killed in 1997 to keep from being fired for embezzlement.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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The Giants’ defense will feel the sting of not having Dexter Lawrence in the middle anymore during this one.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
Verb
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At a raucous commission meeting Tuesday, City Manager Rickelle Williams faced a storm of withering accusations in her initial job evaluation — mostly from Mayor Dean Trantalis, who eagerly supported hiring Williams last year but now scorns her in public.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
8 May 2026
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Last year, Scott clashed with Wyrick over the hiring process for a new city manager to replace Moore, who died in October 2023.—
Joseph Flaherty,
Arkansas Online,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retaining. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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