retain

Study(11)

UK /ɹɪˈteɪn/ US /ɹəˈteɪn/

verb 5noun 2

Collocations

(verb.)

ADV

still | no longer

somehow

She somehow retained her sense of humor even after the difficult breakup.

VERB + RETAIN

be keen to, hope to, want to, wish to

attempt to, seek to, struggle to, try to

She tried to retain her composure when she heard the unexpected news.

manage to | help (to)

be allowed to, be entitled to, have the right to

She is entitled to retain ownership of the house after her divorce is finalized.

PREP

The company decided to retain him as their marketing director for another year.

Definitions

verb

Often followed by from: to hold back (someone or something); to check, to prevent, to restrain, to stop.

Upon vvhich Prince Henry enraged, took up the Cheſs-board, and ſtruck the Dauphin vvith ſuch Fury on the Head, that he laid him bleeding on the Ground, and had killed him if his Brother Robert had not retained him, and made him ſenſible hovv much more it concerned him to make his Eſcape than purſue his Revenge, […]

Often followed by from: to hold back (someone or something); to check, to prevent, to restrain, to stop.

Of a thing: to hold or keep (something) inside it; to contain.

[I]f diſtilled Vinegar or Aquafortis be povvred upon the povvder of Loadſtone, the ſubſiding povvder dryed, retaines ſome magneticall vertue, and vvill be attracted by the Loadſtone: […]

Of a thing: to hold or keep (something) inside it; to contain.

To hold (something) secure; to prevent (something) from becoming detached or separated.

noun

An act of holding or keeping something; a possession, a retention.

Synonym of retinue (“a group of attendants or servants, especially of someone considered important”).

Thesaurus

Synonyms

verb — secure and keep for possible future use or application

hold

verb — allow to remain in a place or position or maintain a propert

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

Example Bank

Wiktionary

[I]f diſtilled Vinegar or Aquafortis be povvred upon the povvder of Loadſtone, the ſubſiding povvder dryed, retaines ſome magneticall vertue, and vvill be attracted by the Loadſtone: […]

Wiktionary

Robert of Artoys baniſht though thou be, / From Fraunce thy natiue Country, yet with vs, / Thou ſhalt retayne as great a Seigniorie: / For vve create thee Earle of Richmond heere, […]

Wiktionary

If you use a computer, you can retain information.

Tatoeba · #54538

These dishes don't retain heat very well.

Tatoeba · #59191

I'd retain that old hat if I were you.

Tatoeba · #246410

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, retain is marked as obsolete. Watch for register when choosing this word.

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