Detain vs. Retain — What's the Difference?

To keep from proceeding; delay or retard

To keep possession of; continue to have

To keep in custody or confinement

To keep in a particular place or condition

(Archaic) To retain or withhold (payment or property, for example).

To continue to have as a feature or aspect

(transitive) To keep someone from proceeding by holding them back or making claims on their attention.

To keep in mind; remember

To put under custody.

To require (a student) to repeat a class or grade because of insufficient educational progress to advance.

(transitive) To keep back or from; to withhold.

To keep in one's service or pay

(transitive) To seize goods for official purposes.

To hire (an attorney, for example) by the payment of a fee.

To keep back or from; to withhold.

To hire a person for (that person's services)

To restrain from proceeding; to stay or stop; to delay; as, we were detained by an accident.

(transitive) To keep in possession or use.

To hold or keep in custody.

(transitive) To keep in one's pay or service.

Detention.

(transitive) To employ by paying a retainer.

Deprive of freedom; take into confinement

(transitive) To hold secure.

Stop or halt;

To hold back (a pupil) instead of allowing them to advance to the next class or year.

Cause to be slowed down or delayed;

(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.

To keep in pay; to employ by a preliminary fee paid; to hire; to engage; as, to retain a counselor.

To restrain; to prevent.

To belong; to pertain.

To keep; to continue; to remain.

Hold within;

Allow to remain in a place or position;

Secure and keep for possible future use or application;

Keep in one's mind;