Retain Definition and Meaning
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Published on December 7, 2025
Retain refers to keep possession of or continue to have something. e.g., She decided to retain her maiden name after marriage.
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Retain Definitions
To continue to have or hold an existing condition.
The team retained their lead until the end of the game.
To keep in memory or mind.
She retains a vivid memory of her first day at school.
To absorb and continue to hold a substance.
Soil retains moisture.
To keep or hold back.
He retained his anger and did not lash out.
To hold or keep in place.
The dam retains the water effectively.
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To preserve or maintain in an unaltered condition.
The museum retains the painting's original frame.
To keep one's position or status.
She retained her title as the champion for three years.
To withhold or hold on to something.
The company retained its profits for future investment.
To keep possession of; continue to have
The family sold the house but retained the land.
To keep in a particular place or condition
A library that retains the author's papers.
Plants that retain a lot of water.
To continue to have as a feature or aspect
Retains his good humor after all the setbacks.
To keep in mind; remember
Retains the songs she learned in childhood.
To require (a student) to repeat a class or grade because of insufficient educational progress to advance.
To keep in one's service or pay
Retain employees on a workforce.
To hire (an attorney, for example) by the payment of a fee.
To hire a person for (that person's services)
Retained the best legal advice available.
(transitive) To keep in possession or use.
(transitive) To keep in one's pay or service.
(transitive) To employ by paying a retainer.
(transitive) To hold secure.
To hold back (a pupil) instead of allowing them to advance to the next class or year.
(obsolete) To restrain; to prevent.
To belong; to pertain.
To continue to hold; to keep in possession; not to lose, part with, or dismiss; to restrain from departure, escape, or the like.
Be obedient, and retainUnalterably firm his love entire.
An executor may retain a debt due to him from the testator.
To keep in pay; to employ by a preliminary fee paid; to hire; to engage; as, to retain a counselor.
A Benedictine convent has now retained the most learned father of their order to write in its defense.
To restrain; to prevent.
To belong; to pertain.
A somewhat languid relish, retaining to bitterness.
To keep; to continue; to remain.
Hold within;
This soil retains water
I retain this drug for a long time
Allow to remain in a place or position;
We cannot continue several servants any longer
She retains a lawyer
The family's fortune waned and they could not keep their household staff
Our grant has run out and we cannot keep you on
We kept the work going as long as we could
Secure and keep for possible future use or application;
The landlord retained the security deposit
I reserve the right to disagree
Keep in one's mind;
I cannot retain so much information
To keep in one's possession or use.
He retained the book for another week.
To hire the services of (a lawyer, consultant, etc.) by payment of a retainer fee.
The company retained a lawyer for their legal matters.
Retain Snonyms
Preserve
To keep something in its original state or in good condition.
They are working to preserve the historic building.
Withhold
To hold back from giving.
The teacher withheld the grades until the end of the week.
Hold
To have and keep in one's grasp.
He holds the record for the longest jump.
Keep
To continue to have possession of.
She keeps her grandmother's ring in a safe place.
Harbor
To keep (a thought or feeling, typically negative) in one's mind, especially secretly.
He harbored resentment towards his rival.
Conserve
To protect from loss or harm; to save.
The community is taking steps to conserve water.
Maintain
To continue in an unchanged condition.
They maintained a steady pace throughout the race.
Secure
To get or achieve something that will not easily be lost.
She secured her valuables in the bank vault.
Sustain
To support, hold, or bear up from below.
The bridge sustains heavy traffic every day.
Cherish
To protect and care for someone lovingly; to hold dear.
She cherishes the memories of her travels.
Retain Idioms & Phrases
Retain a memory
To keep a memory in mind.
He retains a vivid memory of his childhood.
Retain a sense of normalcy
To maintain a normal state or condition.
They tried to retain a sense of normalcy during the crisis.
Retain the right
To continue to have a specific right.
Citizens retain the right to vote.
Retain one's identity
To keep one's sense of self.
The community retains its identity despite modern changes.
Retain control
To continue to have control over something.
The director retained control over the project.
Retain an edge
To maintain an advantage.
The company strives to retain an edge over its competitors.
Retain respect
To continue to be respected.
Despite the controversies, he retained respect in his field.
Retain one's composure
To keep calm and in control of one's emotions.
Despite the chaos, she retained her composure.
Retain interest
To continue to be interested in something.
The show has retained interest among viewers for years.
Retain a grip on reality
To stay in touch with the real world; not become unrealistic.
It's important to retain a grip on reality.
Retain Example Sentences
They decided to retain the original design of the building.
The company aims to retain its best employees by offering competitive benefits.
She managed to retain her sense of humor despite the circumstances.
The fabric is treated to retain its color after washing.
To retain your fitness level, regular exercise is essential.
To retain a competitive advantage, the company invests in innovation.
Common Curiosities
How many syllables are in "retain"?
There are two syllables in "retain."
What is a stressed syllable in "retain"?
The stressed syllable in "retain" is the second one: tain.
How is "retain" used in a sentence?
"Retain" is used to describe the action of keeping possession or maintaining a certain condition, e.g., The company decided to retain some of the original features in the renovated building.
What is the third form of "retain"?
The third form of "retain" is "retained," used as the past participle.
Why is it called "retain"?
"Retain" is called so because it comes from the Latin word "retinere," which means to hold back or keep, reflecting its definition of keeping possession of or continuing to have something.
How do we divide "retain" into syllables?
"Retain" is divided into syllables as re-tain.
What is the pronunciation of "retain"?
"Retain" is pronounced as /rɪˈteɪn/.
What is the second form of "retain"?
The second form of "retain" is "retained," which is the simple past tense.
What is the verb form of "retain"?
The verb form of "retain" is "retain," including its variations like retains, retaining, retained.
What is the root word of "retain"?
The root word of "retain" is from the Latin "retinere," meaning to hold back or keep.
What is another term for "retain"?
Another term for "retain" is "keep."
Is "retain" a noun or adjective?
"Retain" is a verb.
What is the opposite of "retain"?
The opposite of "retain" could be "release," "discard," or "lose."
Is "retain" a countable noun?
"Retain" is not a noun; it is a verb, so the concept of countability does not apply.
What is the first form of "retain"?
The first form of "retain" is "retain," which is the base or infinitive form of the verb.
What part of speech is "retain"?
"Retain" is a verb.
What is the singular form of "retain"?
As a verb, "retain" does not have a singular or plural form in the traditional sense, but it can be used as "retains" in the third person singular present tense.
Is "retain" an adverb?
No, "retain" is not an adverb.
Is "retain" an abstract noun?
No, "retain" is a verb, not a noun.
Is the "retain" term a metaphor?
"Retain" can be used metaphorically to describe keeping or holding onto non-physical items, such as memories or emotions.
Is the word "retain" imperative?
"Retain" can be used in the imperative mood when giving a command or instruction, e.g., "Retain your receipts for reimbursement."
Which vowel is used before "retain"?
The use of a vowel before "retain" depends on the context and preceding words, not on "retain" itself.
Is "retain" a negative or positive word?
"Retain" is neutral; its positivity or negativity depends on the context in which it is used.
Is "retain" a vowel or consonant?
The word "retain" starts with a consonant sound.
Is "retain" a collective noun?
No, "retain" is a verb and not a collective noun.
Which determiner is used with "retain"?
Determiners are not typically used with verbs like "retain." Usage depends on the noun associated with the verb in a sentence.
Which conjunction is used with "retain"?
Conjunctions are used based on the overall sentence structure and not specifically with the verb "retain."
What is the plural form of "retain"?
Verbs do not have plural forms, but "retain" can be used with plural subjects without changing form.
Is the word "retain" a Gerund?
Yes, when "retain" is used as a noun (e.g., "Retaining the title was important to him"), it functions as a gerund.
Is the word “retain” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
As a verb, "retain" can take a direct object (what is being retained), but it does not serve as an object itself.
Which preposition is used with "retain"?
Prepositions such as "in" and "for" are commonly used with "retain," depending on the context, e.g., "retain interest in" or "retain someone for a job."
Which article is used with "retain"?
Articles are not used directly with "retain" since it is a verb; article usage depends on the noun associated with the action of retaining.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
