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
Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
All was brought up to date while retaining artistic integrity.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 22 May 2026
Price reductions will be the best means of retaining fans, even if that damages the bottom line.
—Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 21 May 2026
There appears to be no rule of constitutional or legal interpretation here beyond what will aid the Republican Party in retaining its congressional majorities—even if states have to violate the constitutional rights of American citizens to do so.
—Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 19 May 2026
Gallrein has dramatically cut down the odds of Massie retaining his seat this year — the limited polling in the race shows Massie just single digits ahead of Gallrein.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 17 May 2026
This strategy allows investors to collect premium income while retaining a window for capital appreciation, a necessary feature when a stock exhibits the fundamental and technical strength currently seen in XOM.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 15 May 2026
And that matters because the long-term health of pickleball depends not just on attracting new players—but retaining them.
—Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Re-build the agency by hiring and retaining great people.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 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
In the 2027 draft budget released by the city this month, the Police Department’s top two priorities were recruiting and retaining employees, and improving response times.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
All was brought up to date while retaining artistic integrity.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 22 May 2026
Price reductions will be the best means of retaining fans, even if that damages the bottom line.
—Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 21 May 2026
There appears to be no rule of constitutional or legal interpretation here beyond what will aid the Republican Party in retaining its congressional majorities—even if states have to violate the constitutional rights of American citizens to do so.
—Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 19 May 2026
Gallrein has dramatically cut down the odds of Massie retaining his seat this year — the limited polling in the race shows Massie just single digits ahead of Gallrein.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 17 May 2026
This strategy allows investors to collect premium income while retaining a window for capital appreciation, a necessary feature when a stock exhibits the fundamental and technical strength currently seen in XOM.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 15 May 2026
And that matters because the long-term health of pickleball depends not just on attracting new players—but retaining them.
—Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Re-build the agency by hiring and retaining great people.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retaining
Noun
-
Jeff Charles, operations supervisor for Orange County Stormwater Management, said crews prepared days before landfall by lowering retention ponds and staging emergency pumps throughout vulnerable areas.—
Greg Bennett,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 May 2026
-
Anderson says open-cell memory foam and a cool-to-the-touch cover help combat heat retention without losing shape, which translates to consistent airflow and support all night long.—
V BRAND STORIES,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
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Sales had been poor and didn’t justify keeping the restaurants open or expanding the chain, co-CEO Steven Marks said during a Thursday earnings call with analysts and shareholders.—
Brian J. Rogal,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
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Of course, a solid weighted base also plays a big role in keeping the umbrella upright.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
23 May 2026
Verb
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Valdez Streaty says buyers in some parts of the country remain more skeptical about the practicality of owning an EV than others.—
Mike Winters,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
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Now grown-up with disposable income, the original Swatch collector now arrives with spending power, resale fluency and a clear sense that owning the object is only half the reward.—
Kate Hardcastle,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
But most importantly of all, macOS users need to be aware of how the SHub Reaper threat actors are employing that infection chain by layering familiar brands across multiple stages of the same singular attack.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
Cambodia’s garment industry, employing hundreds of thousands of workers, also rode the shift.—
Mayu Saini,
Footwear News,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
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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Instead of hiring a new host, the network is replacing the show with Byron Allen’s Comics Unleashed.—
Daniel S. Levine,
PEOPLE,
23 May 2026
-
The study shows the remote roles companies have been hiring for most between January 1 and May 21, 2026, offering average salaries of $100,000 or more, according to Paysale.—
ByBryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retaining. Accessed 26 May. 2026.
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