Synonyms of retains

retains

verb

present tense third-person singular of retain

1

as in keeps

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

• keeps
• holds
• possesses
• preserves
• has
• withholds
• saves
• reserves
• protects
• conserves
• enjoys
• owns
• boasts
• holds on to
• manages
• hangs on to
• guards
• controls
• directs
• cherishes
• harbors
• rules
• detains
• commands
• treasures
• clings (to)
• hugs
• bears

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• relinquishes
• yields
• surrenders
• gives
• releases
• abandons
• contributes
• drops
• gives up
• donates
• rejects
• cedes
• loses
• discards
• dumps
• declines
• repudiates
• hands over
• hands out
• spurns

2

as in owns

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

• owns
• has
• possesses
• enjoys
• holds
• keeps
• commands
• carries
• reserves
• rejoices in
• withholds
• boasts
• bears
• shows off
• sports

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lacks
• wants
• relinquishes
• abandons
• renounces
• yields
• disclaims
• surrenders
• discards
• requires
• rejects
• dumps
• cedes
• needs
• repudiates
• declines
• disowns
• hands over
• spurns

3

as in employs

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

• employs
• hires
• recruits
• engages
• pays
• assumes
• signs (up or on)
• enlists
• fees
• places
• takes on
• lays on
• promotes
• jobs
• partners
• reengages
• rehires
• reemploys
• apprentices
• keeps (on)
• contracts
• upgrades
• subcontracts
• advances
• headhunts
• scouts

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dismisses
• cans
• discharges
• fires
• axes
• sacks
• furloughs
• locks out
• lays off

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of retains

While the United States retains extraordinary capabilities, the number of those weapons available and the ability to replace them are more limited. —James Laporta, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026

According to Israeli security officials, intelligence assessments suggest Iran still retains a ballistic missile arsenal in the thousands. —Ian Pannell, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026

The i7 retains a 400 V electrical architecture but switches to a NACS port and sees an increase in maximum charging power from 195 kW to 250 kW thanks to the new cells. —Stephen Edelstein, ArsTechnica, 23 Apr. 2026

The private-sector support bolsters multimedia coverage of climate change through digital, video and print stories from the Miami Herald, which retains editorial control of all content. —Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026

The Star-Telegram retains independence in all coverage decisions. —Lina Ruiz april 22, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Apr. 2026

For a more complete base-building experience that still retains a reasonable amount of verisimilitude, Surviving Mars is the best choice. —Alan Bradley, Space.com, 22 Apr. 2026

Precision is vital in neurosurgery, where even a single millimeter can determine whether a patient retains the ability to speak or move. —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026

But the plot also retains a serial quality that saps momentum and betrays its TV roots. —Naveen Kumar, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026