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retention

noun

Definition of retentionnext
as in maintenance
the act of keeping something or someone The company's rate of employee retention is 80 percent.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of retention These rejections include supplemental health benefits, a night shift differential, geographic pay differential, a recruitment and retention proposal, seniority differential and overtime meal benefits, according to the complaint. — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 7 Sep. 2026 Familial ties like these are central to the fire service community and culture, along with recruitment and retention. — Julia Levine, Hartford Courant, 7 Sep. 2026 Originally, the default retention period for license plate camera data was 30 days, but that was shortened to 7 — however, existing contracts’ agreed upon retention times will still remain. — Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026 Yet since 2020, having churned through four sporting director-type figures, Liverpool’s record on transfers and player retention has been patchy at best. — Simon Hughes, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for retention
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retention
  1. maintenance
  2. retaining
  3. ownership
  4. support
  5. control
Noun
  • Crews still need rest, while tanks still require ammunition and maintenance.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Vehicles generate information across diagnostics, maintenance, utilization, fuel consumption, safety and driver activity.
    — Suresh Rajapakse, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of maintenance
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
Definition of retaining
Noun
  • Plans for a secondary listing would extend ownership in the refinery beyond the millions of Nigerians who have swarmed onto several fintech apps to subscribe to the offer set at 40 cents a share.
    — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2026
  • According to public records, the removal occurred because the player’s family failed to transfer ownership of its previous home and update a driver’s license.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of ownership
Noun
  • The same investments that improve energy security can lower consumer costs, reduce emissions, strengthen industrial capacity and support growth.
    — Nana Menya Ayensu, semafor.com, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Modern submarine programmes involve sophisticated engineering, propulsion, sensors, communications, combat systems and long-term industrial support.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of support
Noun
  • The tight ends can get back to blurring the run and the pass, with Stafford at the controls and Kyren Williams and Corum wearing defenses down between the tackles.
    — Nate Atkins, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • American anti-immigrant politics consequently differs from the European version, remaining more closely bound to the Monroe Doctrine and its vision of hemispheric control.
    — Faisal Devji, Time, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of control

Browse Nearby Words

reteaching
retention
retentive
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Cite this Entry

“Retention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retention. Accessed 18 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on retention

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about retention

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