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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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of retaining
Katie Jackson,
Travel + Leisure,
24 May 2026
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
Lynch retaining seems likely, but Bella’s presence brings nostalgia and star power for the international audience.
—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
26 June 2026
As with other home improvement supplies, retaining current paint colors is smart in case walls need touch-ups or a fresh coat.
—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 June 2026
Getty Images Key Facts Bolton pleaded guilty to one count of illegally retaining classified information, after prosecutors issued an 18-count indictment that accused him of keeping more than 1,000 pages of notes chronicling national security information and sharing them with his wife and daughter.
—
Conor Murray,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
With the Heat sending out guards Tyler Herro and Kasparas Jakucionis as part of the trade for Antetokounmpo, retaining Smith as a depth player would make sense for the Heat.
—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
26 June 2026
Richard Johnson, chief business officer, LuxExperience Group Sarah Burton brings Givenchy’s menswear codes under the same roof as her women’s vision, creating a collection that feels unmistakably part of the same house while retaining a confident masculine identity.
—
Laure Guilbault,
Vogue,
25 June 2026
Keeping class sizes reasonable and retaining top teachers in the district are also top-of-mind issues for Cichowicz.
—
Madeline Luebkert,
CBS News,
25 June 2026
It’s crafted with durable and heat-retaining cast iron, has a spacious 6-quart capacity, and is finished with a glossy enamel to prevent fading, cracking, and chipping.
—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
25 June 2026
As ever, the challenge is to deliver something fresh while retaining the essence of the hugely popular original, released over 1995-2004.
—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
19 June 2026
Noun
Older people have a harder time producing, retaining, and circulating body heat.
—
Katie Jackson,
Travel + Leisure,
24 May 2026
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
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
On Monday, Eli Collins, VP Product at Google DeepMind, announced the investment in A24, giving the company access to DeepMind’s research, infrastructure, and global reach, which will have an active hand in shaping new workflows, with A24 and its filmmakers retaining full creative control.
—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
26 June 2026
As with other home improvement supplies, retaining current paint colors is smart in case walls need touch-ups or a fresh coat.
—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 June 2026
Getty Images Key Facts Bolton pleaded guilty to one count of illegally retaining classified information, after prosecutors issued an 18-count indictment that accused him of keeping more than 1,000 pages of notes chronicling national security information and sharing them with his wife and daughter.
—
Conor Murray,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
With the Heat sending out guards Tyler Herro and Kasparas Jakucionis as part of the trade for Antetokounmpo, retaining Smith as a depth player would make sense for the Heat.
—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
26 June 2026
Richard Johnson, chief business officer, LuxExperience Group Sarah Burton brings Givenchy’s menswear codes under the same roof as her women’s vision, creating a collection that feels unmistakably part of the same house while retaining a confident masculine identity.
—
Laure Guilbault,
Vogue,
25 June 2026
Keeping class sizes reasonable and retaining top teachers in the district are also top-of-mind issues for Cichowicz.
—
Madeline Luebkert,
CBS News,
25 June 2026
It’s crafted with durable and heat-retaining cast iron, has a spacious 6-quart capacity, and is finished with a glossy enamel to prevent fading, cracking, and chipping.
—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
25 June 2026
As ever, the challenge is to deliver something fresh while retaining the essence of the hugely popular original, released over 1995-2004.
—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
19 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retaining
Noun
-
There is plenty of evidence that Marathon going fully free-to-play won’t change things, as there was practically no retention after the recent nearly two-week stretch giving players full access to the game (a botched economy at the start of season 2 certainly didn’t help).
-
As humidity increases ahead of an approaching cold front, heat indices are expected to climb well above air temperatures, creating conditions that can quickly become dangerous for prolonged outdoor activity — especially in urban areas where heat retention is higher overnight.
Verb
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One supporter applauded the board for teaching the Bible in classrooms and keeping Sharia law, the Islamic moral code, out of public schools.
-
Healthcare economists say giving people access to preventive healthcare saves taxpayers money in the long run by keeping the workforce healthy and relieving pressure on an overburdened system.
Verb
-
Dumont, whose professional background is in owning and operating casinos, is gambling that his franchise can use a 34-year-old guard who is coming off another major injury whose forte is surreal quickness and dribble-drive penetration as the primary complement to Cooper Flagg.
-
The museum began with Grant’s lifelong dream of owning an actual Gremlin puppet.
Verb
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California is among the largest markets for freight trucking, employing more than 130,000 drivers.
-
Though Olson had no defensive chances, the incident highlighted the extreme measures the Braves are employing to navigate their extensive injury woes and depth limitations this season.
Noun
-
Watching the hearing via Zoom from a prison holding room, Powell wiped his eyes and sighed heavily as Cribbs once again recited the facts of the case before Judge Rachelle Carnesale, explaining when Walton was fatally shot.
-
The saver is told the holding is the sensible, boring sort.
Verb
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The organization is seeking investors willing to accept modest returns in exchange for preserving historic buildings, supporting local businesses and maintaining the character of West Marin communities.
-
Travelers will discover that the locals here are extremely passionate about protecting this environment and are eager to educate visitors on preserving the land and wildlife.
Verb
-
Despite appearing in just 13 games this season due to injury and having a negative wins above replacement value, per Baseball Reference, Kirk received 1,488,788 votes and second place among AL catchers.
-
With the games now having the kind of stakes that Thursday’s contest lacked, that leaky defense – especially in crunch time toward the end of matches – is the possible Achilles heel for this team.
Verb
-
Twice last month, people in South Korea taking an exam to assess their English language skills - the results of which are often used to make hiring decisions - were caught using smart glasses.
-
He is accused of not checking work authorizations before hiring laborers, according to the Post.
Cite this Entry
“Retaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retaining. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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