Retain vs. Maintain — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Retain and Maintain
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Compare with Definitions
Retain
To keep possession of; continue to have
The family sold the house but retained the land.
Maintain
Cause or enable (a condition or situation) to continue
The need to maintain close links between industry and schools
Retain
To keep in a particular place or condition
A library that retains the author's papers.
Plants that retain a lot of water.
Maintain
Provide with necessities for life or existence
The allowance covers the basic costs of maintaining a child
Retain
To continue to have as a feature or aspect
Retains his good humor after all the setbacks.
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Maintain
State something strongly to be the case; assert
He has always maintained his innocence
He had persistently maintained that he would not stand against his old friend
Retain
To keep in mind; remember
Retains the songs she learned in childhood.
Maintain
To keep up or carry on; continue
Maintain good relations.
Retain
To require (a student) to repeat a class or grade because of insufficient educational progress to advance.
Maintain
To keep in an existing state; preserve or retain
Maintain one's composure.
Retain
To keep in one's service or pay
Retain employees on a workforce.
Maintain
To keep in a condition of good repair or efficiency
Maintain two cars.
Retain
To hire (an attorney, for example) by the payment of a fee.
Maintain
To provide for; support
Maintain a family.
Retain
To hire a person for (that person's services)
Retained the best legal advice available.
Maintain
To keep in existence; sustain
Enough food to maintain life.
Retain
(transitive) To keep in possession or use.
Maintain
To defend or hold against criticism or attack
Maintained his stand on taxes.
Retain
(transitive) To keep in one's pay or service.
Maintain
To declare to be true; affirm
Maintained her innocence.
Retain
(transitive) To employ by paying a retainer.
Maintain
To adhere or conform to; keep
Maintain a busy schedule.
Retain
(transitive) To hold secure.
Maintain
To support (someone), to back up or assist (someone) in an action.
Retain
To hold back (a pupil) instead of allowing them to advance to the next class or year.
Maintain
To keep up; to preserve; to uphold (a state, condition etc.).
Retain
(obsolete) To restrain; to prevent.
Maintain
To declare or affirm (a clause) to be true; to assert.
Retain
To belong; to pertain.
Maintain
To hold or keep in any particular state or condition; to support; to sustain; to uphold; to keep up; not to suffer to fail or decline; as, to maintain a certain degree of heat in a furnace; to maintain a fence or a railroad; to maintain the digestive process or powers of the stomach; to maintain the fertility of soil; to maintain present reputation.
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.
Maintain
To keep possession of; to hold and defend; not to surrender or relinquish.
God values . . . every one as he maintains his post.
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.
Maintain
To continue; not to suffer to cease or fail.
Maintain talk with the duke.
Retain
To restrain; to prevent.
Maintain
To bear the expense of; to support; to keep up; to supply with what is needed.
Glad, by his labor, to maintain his life.
What maintains one vice would bring up two children.
Retain
To belong; to pertain.
A somewhat languid relish, retaining to bitterness.
Maintain
To affirm; to support or defend by argument.
It is hard to maintain the truth, but much harder to be maintained by it.
Retain
To keep; to continue; to remain.
Maintain
Keep in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g.,
Keep clean
Hold in place
She always held herself as a lady
The students keep me on my toes
Retain
Hold within;
This soil retains water
I retain this drug for a long time
Maintain
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
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
Maintain
Supply with necessities and support;
She alone sustained her family
The money will sustain our good cause
There's little to earn and many to keep
Retain
Secure and keep for possible future use or application;
The landlord retained the security deposit
I reserve the right to disagree
Maintain
State categorically
Retain
Keep in one's mind;
I cannot retain so much information
Maintain
Of power or authority
Maintain
Maintain for use and service;
I keep a car in the countryside
She keeps an apartment in Paris for her shopping trips
Maintain
Maintain by writing regular records;
Keep a diary
Maintain a record
Keep notes
Maintain
State or assert;
He maintained his innocence
Maintain
Support against an opponent;
The appellate court upheld the verdict
Maintain
Observe correctly or closely;
The pianist kept time with the metronome
Keep count
I cannot keep track of all my employees
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