Preserve vs. Retain — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 4, 2024
Preserve involves maintaining something in its original state, often with protective measures, while retain focuses on keeping possession or not losing something.
Difference Between Preserve and Retain
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Preserve implies active intervention to keep something in its original or intact condition, often through specific methods or conditions. Whereas, retain simply means holding on to or keeping possession of something, without necessarily implying any specific effort to maintain its original state.
Preservation often includes techniques that prevent decay or degradation, like food preservation methods that involve canning, freezing, or drying. On the other hand, retaining something can be as simple as not discarding it or ensuring it remains within a collection or under control.
Preserve is frequently used in contexts like environmental conservation, where the goal is to keep ecosystems or species in their natural state. Retain, however, is more about keeping attributes, rights, or conditions, like retaining legal rights or retaining moisture in the skin.
In cultural contexts, to preserve means to protect traditions, artifacts, or languages from being forgotten or destroyed. Whereas, to retain often refers to maintaining knowledge, skills, or information over time without them diminishing.
Preserve can also imply a formal or institutional effort to protect something considered valuable, such as historic buildings or artworks. Retain, in contrast, might involve personal or less formal actions, such as retaining memories or retaining a sense of identity.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
To keep something in its original or existing state
To keep possession of something
Effort Involved
Active methods or interventions
Passive holding or maintaining
Usage Context
Conservation, food storage, cultural protection
Legal rights, knowledge, personal possessions
Implication
Prevents deterioration or damage
Maintains status but not necessarily condition
Example
Preserving wildlife involves creating protected areas.
Retaining knowledge involves continuous practice or reference.
Compare with Definitions
Preserve
To maintain something in its original state.
They work to preserve historical landmarks.
Retain
To continue to have something.
Retain your receipts for expense tracking.
Preserve
To protect from decay.
Preserving food in airtight containers helps it last longer.
Retain
To keep in one's memory.
He retains a lot of information from his extensive reading.
Preserve
To keep alive or in existence.
Efforts to preserve minority languages are crucial.
Retain
To keep in possession.
She retains ownership of the property despite the legal challenges.
Preserve
To prevent from being lost or abandoned.
The museum preserves artifacts from ancient times.
Retain
To hold or keep in place.
The dam retains water to prevent flooding.
Preserve
To keep safe from harm or injury.
Laws are in place to preserve endangered species.
Retain
To keep in a fixed state or condition.
The moisturizer helps retain skin hydration.
Preserve
To keep from injury, peril, or harm; protect.
Retain
To keep possession of; continue to have
The family sold the house but retained the land.
Preserve
To keep in perfect or unaltered condition; maintain unchanged
Fossils preserved in sediments.
A film preserved in the archives.
Retain
To keep in a particular place or condition
A library that retains the author's papers.
Plants that retain a lot of water.
Preserve
To keep or maintain intact
Tried to preserve family harmony.
Retain
To continue to have as a feature or aspect
Retains his good humor after all the setbacks.
Preserve
To prepare (food) for storage or future use, as by canning or salting.
Retain
To keep in mind; remember
Retains the songs she learned in childhood.
Preserve
To prevent (organic bodies) from decaying or spoiling
Preserved the specimen in a chemical solution.
Retain
To require (a student) to repeat a class or grade because of insufficient educational progress to advance.
Preserve
To protect (wildlife or natural resources) in a designated area, often for regulated hunting or fishing.
Retain
To keep in one's service or pay
Retain employees on a workforce.
Preserve
To maintain (an area) for the protection of wildlife or natural resources.
Retain
To hire (an attorney, for example) by the payment of a fee.
Preserve
To treat fruit or other foods so as to prevent decay.
Retain
To hire a person for (that person's services)
Retained the best legal advice available.
Preserve
To maintain an area for the protection of wildlife or natural resources.
Retain
(transitive) To keep in possession or use.
Preserve
Something that acts to preserve; a preservative.
Retain
(transitive) To keep in one's pay or service.
Preserve
Often preserves Fruit cooked with sugar to protect against decay or fermentation.
Retain
(transitive) To employ by paying a retainer.
Preserve
An area maintained for the protection of wildlife or natural resources.
Retain
(transitive) To hold secure.
Preserve
Something considered as being the exclusive province of certain persons
Ancient Greek is the preserve of scholars.
Retain
To hold back (a pupil) instead of allowing them to advance to the next class or year.
Preserve
A sweet spread made of any of a variety of fruits.
Retain
(obsolete) To restrain; to prevent.
Preserve
A reservation, a nature preserve.
Retain
To belong; to pertain.
Preserve
An activity with restricted access.
Retain
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.
Preserve
To protect; to keep from harm or injury.
Every people have the right to preserve its identity and culture.
Retain
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.
Preserve
To save from decay by the use of some preservative substance, such as sugar or salt; to season and prepare (fruits, meat, etc.) for storage.
To preserve peaches or grapes
Retain
To restrain; to prevent.
Preserve
To maintain throughout; to keep intact.
To preserve appearances; to preserve silence
Retain
To belong; to pertain.
A somewhat languid relish, retaining to bitterness.
Preserve
To keep or save from injury or destruction; to guard or defend from evil, harm, danger, etc.; to protect.
O Lord, thou preserved man and beast.
Now, good angels preserve the king.
Retain
To keep; to continue; to remain.
Preserve
To save from decay by the use of some preservative substance, as sugar, salt, etc.; to season and prepare for remaining in a good state, as fruits, meat, etc.; as, to preserve peaches or grapes.
You can not preserve it from tainting.
Retain
Hold within;
This soil retains water
I retain this drug for a long time
Preserve
To maintain throughout; to keep intact; as, to preserve appearances; to preserve silence.
Retain
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
Preserve
To make preserves.
Retain
Secure and keep for possible future use or application;
The landlord retained the security deposit
I reserve the right to disagree
Preserve
To protect game for purposes of sport.
Retain
Keep in one's mind;
I cannot retain so much information
Preserve
That which is preserved; fruit, etc., seasoned and kept by suitable preparation; esp., fruit cooked with sugar; - commonly in the plural.
Preserve
A place in which game, fish, etc., are preserved for purposes of sport, or for food.
Preserve
A domain that seems to be specially reserved for someone;
Medicine is no longer a male preserve
Preserve
A reservation where animals are protected
Preserve
Fruit preserved by cooking with sugar
Preserve
Keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last;
Preserve the peace in the family
Continue the family tradition
Carry on the old traditions
Preserve
Keep in safety and protect from harm, decay, loss, or destruction;
We preserve these archeological findings
The old lady could not keep up the building
Children must be taught to conserve our national heritage
The museum curator conserved the ancient manuscripts
Preserve
To keep up and reserve for personal or special use;
She saved the old family photographs in a drawer
Preserve
Prevent (food) from rotting;
Preserved meats
Keep potatoes fresh
Preserve
Maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger;
May God keep you
Preserve
Keep undisturbed for personal or private use for hunting, shooting, or fishing;
Preserve the forest and the lakes
Common Curiosities
How does one retain information effectively?
Retaining information effectively can be achieved through regular review and practical application.
What are common methods to preserve historical documents?
Common methods include controlled environments with specific temperature and humidity levels to prevent decay.
How can one retain a sense of identity in a new culture?
One can retain a sense of identity by maintaining cultural practices and connections to one’s heritage.
What does it mean to preserve food?
Preserving food involves processes like canning or freezing to keep it edible for longer periods.
What does it mean to retain legal rights?
To retain legal rights means to continue to possess those rights under the law, without them being revoked or diminished.
What is the purpose of a nature preserve?
The purpose of a nature preserve is to protect species and habitats from human interference.
Why is it important to preserve natural habitats?
Preserving natural habitats helps maintain biodiversity and ecological balance essential for life.
How do museums help preserve art?
Museums preserve art by providing climate-controlled environments and security measures to protect from damage.
How does soil retain water?
Soil retains water through its pore spaces, which hold water after rainfall or irrigation.
What is the difference between preserving and restoring?
Preserving involves maintaining the current state, while restoring involves bringing something back to a previous state.
Can retaining water be harmful?
Yes, retaining excessive water in the body can lead to health issues like edema.
What role does technology play in preserving languages?
Technology helps in preserving languages through digital recordings, online dictionaries, and platforms for language learning.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-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.
