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

TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, still retains a minority stake in the American version of TikTok, which licenses its algorithm from ByteDance. —Katherine Faulders, ABC News, 8 May 2026

Notably, the company retains its cultural relevance through a series of collaborations and partnerships that link the world of fragrance with overall beauty, entertainment, fashion and pop culture. —Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 8 May 2026

In extreme cold, down to -20 °C (-4 °F), the ebike's battery reportedly retains around 70% of its capacity, not spectacular but a meaningful improvement over the erratic behavior of conventional lithium-ion cells when temperatures drop hard. —Omar Kardoudi may 08, New Atlas, 8 May 2026

The bill also retains its enforcement division capable of making arrests, despite initial DFL reservations. —Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 7 May 2026

Even someone who bears the majority of the fault for an accident retains the legal right to pursue the portion of their damages attributable to the other party’s negligence. —Anton Lucanus may 7, Sacbee.com, 7 May 2026

Palos also retains his founding ownership stake in the company alongside founding investors ImageNation (out of Abu Dhabi), Latin American investment fund Media Net and Silicon Valley private equity investor Greg Clark. —Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 7 May 2026

That’s what retains talent and capital. —Linh Tat, Oc Register, 4 May 2026

The country also retains significant tanker capacity — equivalent to roughly 37 very large crude carriers — both inside and outside the blockade. —Anthony Di Paola, Fortune, 2 May 2026