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

Despite the protests, Vucic retains considerable support among Serbia's voters. — ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026

Despite not receiving the endorsement of the faculty guild, Buelna retains the support of a number of faculty members, including the president of the academic senate, Angela Echeverri. — Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026

On red carpets and social media alike, celebs and trendsetters seem to be moving away from ultra-glowy, glazed donut finishes in favor of skin that retains its texture, depth, and natural glow. — Jeanne Ballion, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026

Twenty-seven years later, the attack on a school in the Denver suburbs retains an archetypal mystique for generations of troubled young people. — Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026

The Duo retains a bit less color detail in low light too, though Night Mode kind of evens out the playing field between them. — Nilay Patel, The Verge, 21 Oct. 2026

The store retains the brand’s spirit, with terrazzo flooring, Odisha tiles and the hearts that have become emblematic of Péro. — Mayu Saini, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026

The company says the light retains its four-source layout—Pure Flood, Spotlight, UV and a green beam—with flood output up to 1,700 lumens and spotlight reach up to 205 meters. — Connie Etemadi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Oct. 2026

The latest unit retains the same first six forward ratios as the outgoing Carrera T’s manual transmission, but ditches its predecessor’s somewhat awkward and largely superfluous seventh gear. — Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026