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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of retains
Clay soil is heavy and retains water longer than sandy soils.
—
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
The Dallas Morning News retains full editorial control of the Education Lab’s journalism.
—Jessica Ma, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026
Polygiene Polygiene has introduced a new version of its odor-control chemistry that captures and retains odor molecules within textiles without relying on heavy metals.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 5 Mar. 2026
The adaptation retains traces of its literary roots—there are multiple nods to Nabokov, including a bakery named after Charlotte Haze, Lolita’s mother—but its bookishness is mostly window dressing.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2026
Unlike other MacBooks, this one skips the notch, but retains a 1080p webcam.
—New Atlas, 5 Mar. 2026
This retains moisture and acts as a weed barrier.
—Lauren Wellbank, Martha Stewart, 5 Mar. 2026
The metal itself retains its physical properties indefinitely.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
In Miami-Dade, the company retains about $20 of every $100 violation, according to a December memo.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
The Dallas Morning News retains full editorial control of the Education Lab’s journalism.
—Jessica Ma, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026
Polygiene Polygiene has introduced a new version of its odor-control chemistry that captures and retains odor molecules within textiles without relying on heavy metals.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 5 Mar. 2026
The adaptation retains traces of its literary roots—there are multiple nods to Nabokov, including a bakery named after Charlotte Haze, Lolita’s mother—but its bookishness is mostly window dressing.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2026
Unlike other MacBooks, this one skips the notch, but retains a 1080p webcam.
—New Atlas, 5 Mar. 2026
This retains moisture and acts as a weed barrier.
—Lauren Wellbank, Martha Stewart, 5 Mar. 2026
The metal itself retains its physical properties indefinitely.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
In Miami-Dade, the company retains about $20 of every $100 violation, according to a December memo.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retains
Verb
-
Taking an inventive approach can solve a sticky problem, while empathy keeps talks human and fair.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Just like Oswego’s population keeps growing, so does its annual Hometown Expo.—
David Sharos,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Matsuhisa, 76, know for his iconic Japanese restaurant Nobu, which has six locations in California, owns businesses across five continents.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Daniel Sosa owns four licensed cannabis businesses in Los Angeles and previously urged the city to take immediate action to support the industry.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Sylmar attraction first opened in 2014 and employs 15 people.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The service To minimize its environmental footprint, the hotel employs locals—from builders and gardeners to chefs and hotel staff—who are happy to advise on boat trips, hikes in the mountains, and the best restaurants in nearby villages.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Weatherspoon holds offers from mid-majors such as Buffalo, High Point University, Northern Colorado and UTEP.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Players can choose whether to throw the stone alone or with a teammate who holds the wheelchair steady.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Every city has a notorious nightclub or bar worth visiting.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Every sentence has extra nuance, so stay aware of your word choice.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Most notable among the analyst hires is Skyler Mornhinweg, whose father Marty was Harbaugh’s offensive coordinator in Baltimore from 2016 to 2018.—
Dan Duggan,
New York Times,
3 Mar. 2026
-
The Fairness in Apartment Rental Expenses, or FARE, mandates that the party who hires the broker must pay the broker.—
Mahsa Saeidi,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Privacy and authenticity are valuable assets for any artist to maintain, but Styles has never been a master of crafting a specific image, let alone a lyric that possesses a kind of crystal-clear metaphor or emotion.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The franchise possesses a bounty of movable assets, plenty of cap space and a couple of holes in its lineup.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Living history in full costume at Washington-on-the-Brazos If your family enjoys even a bit of Texas history, take them to Washington-on-the-Brazos.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Creative confidence enjoys a tailwind as loving Venus hones your 5th House of Inspiration, so your talent shines without forcing the moment.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retains. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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