retain
verb
re·tain ri-ˈtān 
retained; retaining; retains
transitive verb
1
a
: to keep in possession or use
b
: to keep in one's pay or service
specifically : to employ by paying a retainer
c
: to keep in mind or memory : remember
2
: to hold secure or intact
Synonyms
- hold
- keep
- reserve
- withhold
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
A landlord may retain part of your deposit if you break the lease. They insisted on retaining old customs. You will retain your rights as a citizen. The TV show has retained its popularity for many years. The company's goal is to attract and retain good employees. The team failed to retain him, and he became a free agent. They have decided to retain a firm to conduct a survey. You may need to retain an attorney. See More
Recent Examples on the Web Our national prognosis would likely be brighter had Biden, the unfailingly moderate voice of the establishment, simply been trying to scare up enough votes for Democrats to retain control of the Senate and the House in November. 
Jelani Cobb, The New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2022 The optics weren't good in that Lamet had only recently reached five years of major-league service time, which meant the Brewers were no longer able to simply option him to the minor leagues and retain control of him. Todd Rosiak, Journal Sentinel, 7 Sep. 2022 Even if the Glazers retain control of the club, by this time next year that might be the case. Justin Lahart, WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022 Their race, one of the last notable Democratic House primaries of the midterm season, highlighted party splinters ahead of what’s expected to be a tight November fight to retain control of Congress. Isabella Murray, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2022 The same Monmouth poll found that 59 percent of young voters want Democrats to retain control of Congress in November, compared to only 34 percent who prefer the GOP. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 17 Aug. 2022 In this scenario, employees are able to cut back on the time typically wasted on travel to HQ, and employers can retain greater control over operations that a physical environment affords. Dan Zakai, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2022 Angelos, 55, prefers to sell a piece of the Orioles while continuing to retain his family’s majority control, two people told The Baltimore Sun in interviews. Jeff Barker, Baltimore Sun, 15 Aug. 2022 Want to retain more control over your data in the cloud? Scott Gilbertson, Wired, 1 Aug. 2022 See More
Jelani Cobb, The New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2022 The optics weren't good in that Lamet had only recently reached five years of major-league service time, which meant the Brewers were no longer able to simply option him to the minor leagues and retain control of him. Todd Rosiak, Journal Sentinel, 7 Sep. 2022 Even if the Glazers retain control of the club, by this time next year that might be the case. Justin Lahart, WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022 Their race, one of the last notable Democratic House primaries of the midterm season, highlighted party splinters ahead of what’s expected to be a tight November fight to retain control of Congress. Isabella Murray, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2022 The same Monmouth poll found that 59 percent of young voters want Democrats to retain control of Congress in November, compared to only 34 percent who prefer the GOP. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 17 Aug. 2022 In this scenario, employees are able to cut back on the time typically wasted on travel to HQ, and employers can retain greater control over operations that a physical environment affords. Dan Zakai, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2022 Angelos, 55, prefers to sell a piece of the Orioles while continuing to retain his family’s majority control, two people told The Baltimore Sun in interviews. Jeff Barker, Baltimore Sun, 15 Aug. 2022 Want to retain more control over your data in the cloud? Scott Gilbertson, Wired, 1 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English reteinen, retainen, from Anglo-French retenir, reteigner, from Latin retinēre to hold back, restrain, from re- + tenēre to hold — more at thin
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
retain
verb
re·tain ri-ˈtān
retained; retaining
1
: to keep or continue to use
They retain old customs.
2
: to hold safe or unchanged
Lead retains heat.
Medical Definition
retain
transitive verb
re·tain ri-ˈtān
1
: to hold or keep in
retain fluids
2
: to keep in mind or memory
Legal Definition
retain
transitive verb
re·tain ri-ˈtān
1
: to keep in possession or use
2
: to keep in one's pay or service
specifically : to employ (as a lawyer) by paying a retainer
retainers
noun
1
as in servants
a person hired to perform household or personal services knights being dressed for battle by their retainers Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- servants
- lackeys
- maids
- menials
- flunkies
- housekeepers
- women
- butlers
- domestics
- grooms
- stewards
- servitors
- flunkeys
- footmen
- assistants
- men
- dailies
- valets
- houseboys
- companions
- attendants
- maidservants
- menservants
- housemen
- followers
- wenches
- handmaidens
- housemaids
- factotums
- ladies-in-waiting
- majordomos
- gofers
- handmaids
- gophers
- drudges
- dogsbodies
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- masters
- mistresses
- leaders
- chiefs
- bosses
- heads
- captains
- headmen
- foremen
- kingpins
- taskmasters
- helmsmen
2
as in employees
one who works for another for wages or a salary lifelong civil service retainers Synonyms & Similar Words
- employees
- employes
- workers
- assistants
- hirelings
- associates
- laborers
- colleagues
- subordinates
- jobholders
- hands
- underlings
- flunkeys
- flunkies
- cogs
- coworkers
- wage earners
- workmen
- workwomen
- gandy dancers
- grubs
- wageworkers
- toilers
- temporaries
- workingmen
- workingwomen
- yes-men
- co-workers
- wage slaves
- jobbers
- hacks
- navvies
- drudges
- temps
- nine-to-fivers
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- employers
- bosses
- supervisors
- superiors
- gaffers
