retained; retaining; retains
1
2
: to hold secure or intact
Examples of retain in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
This combined with a stretching of the heart muscle that often happens when someone with kidney disease retains too much water, can lead to heart failure.
—
Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 15 Feb. 2025
Unlike Chase, Aykroyd worked hard to retain Carter’s affectations and appearance, while also adding a slyness that implied a deeper calculation.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 15 Feb. 2025
Scientific experts retained by Sinner supported his view that Clostebol entered his body through Naldi’s treatment.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 15 Feb. 2025
Rather, after Trump issued an executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, the AP issued style guidance to retain the original name.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for retain
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Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 15 Feb. 2025
Unlike Chase, Aykroyd worked hard to retain Carter’s affectations and appearance, while also adding a slyness that implied a deeper calculation.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 15 Feb. 2025
Scientific experts retained by Sinner supported his view that Clostebol entered his body through Naldi’s treatment.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 15 Feb. 2025
Rather, after Trump issued an executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, the AP issued style guidance to retain the original name.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for retain
Cite this Entry
“Retain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retain. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
retain
verb
re·tain
ri-ˈtān 
1
a
: to keep in possession or use
you will retain your rights as a citizen
b
: to keep in pay or in one's service
especially
: to employ by paying a retainer
retain an attorney
c
: remember sense 3
I can't retain phone numbers
2
: to hold secure or unchanged
land retains heat longer than water
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
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