as in retention
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of retaining
Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 20 Feb. 2026
Infused with Japanese white peony, known for its moisture-retaining properties, plus silk protein and peptide-rich whey protein, Tatcha’s cushiony eye cream is designed to melt away the look of wrinkles while visibly firming.
—Tracy Perez Han, InStyle, 20 Feb. 2026
Reopening Jail North would require hiring and retaining sufficient staff, providing juvenile-specific training, and ensuring proper safety protocols are in place for both youth and employees.
—Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026
But app fatigue is real, and Senn says the team is actively thinking about retaining integrity—how to build guardrails that prevent wallets from going the way of email and SMS, buried under spam.
—Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
Recruiting and retaining qualified youth development professionals, as well as securing sustainable funding, remain ongoing challenges.
—Will Richmond, The Providence Journal, 19 Feb. 2026
Playing at all matters the most for Martinez, even while retaining the selfless tenets of mudita.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 19 Feb. 2026
The way these deals functioned, a third NHL team would become a party to a trade by agreeing to serve as a middleman, retaining a small portion of a player’s contract in exchange for a mid-round pick.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2026
The ultra-soft, heat-retaining fabric stretches close to the body, trapping warmth efficiently and making long evenings at Copenhagen’s Christmas markets far more enjoyable.
—Michelle Tchea, Travel + Leisure, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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
Rocks and gravel can also help keep weeds at bay while retaining moisture, so try experimenting with different colors and textures to level up your curb appeal.
—Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 20 Feb. 2026
Infused with Japanese white peony, known for its moisture-retaining properties, plus silk protein and peptide-rich whey protein, Tatcha’s cushiony eye cream is designed to melt away the look of wrinkles while visibly firming.
—Tracy Perez Han, InStyle, 20 Feb. 2026
Reopening Jail North would require hiring and retaining sufficient staff, providing juvenile-specific training, and ensuring proper safety protocols are in place for both youth and employees.
—Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026
But app fatigue is real, and Senn says the team is actively thinking about retaining integrity—how to build guardrails that prevent wallets from going the way of email and SMS, buried under spam.
—Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
Recruiting and retaining qualified youth development professionals, as well as securing sustainable funding, remain ongoing challenges.
—Will Richmond, The Providence Journal, 19 Feb. 2026
Playing at all matters the most for Martinez, even while retaining the selfless tenets of mudita.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 19 Feb. 2026
The way these deals functioned, a third NHL team would become a party to a trade by agreeing to serve as a middleman, retaining a small portion of a player’s contract in exchange for a mid-round pick.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2026
The ultra-soft, heat-retaining fabric stretches close to the body, trapping warmth efficiently and making long evenings at Copenhagen’s Christmas markets far more enjoyable.
—Michelle Tchea, Travel + Leisure, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retaining
Noun
-
Invest in equitable public school funding, teacher recruitment/retention incentives, mental health support, technology access, and career pathways that prepare students for 21st-century jobs, while keeping classrooms safe and focused on learning.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Fair pay is essential to retention, respect and student success.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
For families Families are welcome and kids seem rather well behaved, keeping the with the resort’s chill vibe.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
-
The quote was apt considering that after her win — her first medal since scoring a silver in the combined at the 2018 games in Pyeongchang following an 0-8 string of loses at the Winter Games — Shiffrin talked about pushing away the criticism and keeping her eyes on the prize.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Ricketts family enters its 17th season owning the franchise and coming off the Cubs’ first playoff appearance since 2020, the long-term vision remains the same.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
-
In the fall, the actress made the case for owning a pair of low-slung, baggy blue jeans.—
Kaelin Dodge,
InStyle,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
It was also reported to be Butler County's ninth largest employer, employing about 2,000 people.—
Cheryl Vari,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Another, role the state could play in immigration is to eliminate employing H1B visas immigrants from any state contracts and from admission into state Universities.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Bowyer said a review of past proxy votes of TSET stock holdings showed some of its asset managers voting against the economic values of the state.—
Paul Monies,
Oklahoma Watch,
19 Feb. 2026
-
MineTXC serves as the cryptocurrency’s digital mining operation, while Blockchain Mint serves as the venture’s marketing arm and also manufactures cold storage coins, or the physical coins that crypto owners can use to access their digital holdings.—
Trevor Bach,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
For said participating brands, the structure is meant to remove volume constraints while preserving existing supplier relationships.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
19 Feb. 2026
-
That reverence derives from Dolce&Gabbana’s investment in promoting and preserving Italy’s culture and artisanal traditions.—
Jane Wooldridge,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
There were noticeable knock-on effects of having so few fixtures.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Once chewed up by the machine of expectation and found guilty of the eternal athletic sin of having too much talent too soon, Liu has since learned how to spit back rather than be spit out.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The more filler words someone uses, the lower they’re rated in professional and personal credibility and communication competence, which can influence hiring decisions.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
20 Feb. 2026
-
And the cost of tariffs has reduced many companies’ profits, possibly leading them to cut back on hiring.—
Christopher Rugaber,
Fortune,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retaining. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
