Synonyms for retain
rɪˈteɪnre·tain

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. retainverb

   Synonyms:
   keep

2. retainverb

   To keep in possession or use.

   Synonyms:
   keep

3. retainverb

   To keep in one's pay or service.

   Synonyms:
   keep

4. retainverb

   To employ by paying a retainer.

   Synonyms:
   keep

5. retainverb

   To hold secure.

   Synonyms:
   keep

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. retain

   Keep, signifying generally to have and retain in possession, is the terse, strong Saxon term for many acts which are more exactly discriminated by other words. We keep, observe, or celebrate a festival; we keep or hold a prisoner in custody; we keep or preserve silence, keep the peace, preserve order — preserve being the more formal word; we keep or maintain a horse, a servant, etc.; a man supports his family; we keep or obey a commandment; keep or fulfil a promise. In the expressions to keep a secret, keep one's own counsel, keep faith, or keep the faith, such words as preserve or maintain could not be substituted without loss. A person keeps a shop or store, conducts or carries on a business; he keeps or carries a certain line of goods; we may keep or restrain one from folly, crime, or violence; we keep from or refrain from evil, ourselves. Keep in the sense of guard or defend implies that the defense is effectual. Compare CELEBRATE; RESTRAIN.

   Synonyms:
   carry, carry on, celebrate, conduct, defend, detain, fulfil, guard, hold, keep, maintain, obey, observe, preserve, protect, refrain, restrain, support, sustain, withhold

   Preposition:
   Keep in hand, in mind, in or within the house; from evil; out of mischief; keep to the subject; keep for a person, an occasion, etc.

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 2 votes

1. retain

   Synonyms:
   keep, hold, restrain

   Antonyms:
   abandon, forfeit, surrender

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. retainverb

   hold back within

   "This soil retains water"; "I retain this drug for a long time"; "the dam retains the water"

   Synonyms:
   keep on, continue, keep back, hold back, hold, keep

2. retain, continue, keep, keep onverb

   allow to remain in a place or position or maintain a property or feature

   "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"; "She retained her composure"; "this garment retains its shape even after many washings"

   Synonyms:
   go along, keep on, celebrate, remain, stay on, go on, stay, carry on, keep, cover, hold back, save, hold, hold on, persist in, go forward, prevent, keep open, uphold, extend, keep back, proceed, maintain, hold open, restrain, observe, bear on, preserve, sustain, continue, stay fresh

3. retain, hold, keep back, hold backverb

   secure and keep for possible future use or application

   "The landlord retained the security deposit"; "I reserve the right to disagree"

   Synonyms:
   accommodate, wait, book, withhold, moderate, view as, support, apply, hold back, harbour, defend, take hold, bind, deem, hold up, continue, hold off, take, have, concord, check, make, admit, go for, take for, throw, defy, control, turn back, harbor, keep, obligate, carry, give, adjudge, entertain, forbear, nurse, oblige, curb, hold, conceal, confine, have got, arrest, restrain, withstand, agree, hold in, halt, contain, keep on, concur, maintain, guard, keep back, sustain, prevail, reserve, obtain, declare, stop, bear

4. retainverb

   keep in one's mind

   "I cannot retain so much information"

   Synonyms:
   keep on, continue, keep back, hold back, hold, keep

Matched Categories

1. • Hold
   • Prolong
   • Remember

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. retainverb

   Synonyms:
   hold, keep, reserve, detain, hug, keep back, keep in hand

2. retainverb

   Synonyms:
   engage (by fee paid), hire

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. retainverb

   Synonyms:
   keep, hold, reserve

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "retain":

   maintain, keep, conserve, preserve, retaining, withhold, retention, reservations, maintaining, sustain, conserving, hold, remain, retains, deduct, reservation, retained, keeping, conservation

How to pronounce retain?

How to say retain in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use retain in a sentence?

1. Eleni Linos:

   As technology becomes more sophisticated and people start to use their phones interactively for an increasing number of daily tasks, it would not be surprising if they also increasingly turned to electronic devices for help with personal, health and safety issues, the phone user needs to retain the power to choose what happens. Every domestic violence and sexual assault situation is different, and the phone won't know if the abuser suddenly re-enters the room, grabs the phone, or starts listening in. It's tempting to say that the phone should automatically dial 9-1-1, but that could lead to an increase in the number of accidental calls, limit emergency services' capacity to respond to actual urgent calls, and worst of all might tip off the perpetrator that his or her victim is trying to get help.

2. Thomas Bach:

   Toshiro Muto added. For example, Japanese media have said the duration of the torch relay would be reduced from the original 121 days to save costs. The events would have to retain the essentials, Toshiro Muto said, adding, what are the must-have items ?

3. Miguel de Cervantes:

   My heart is wax moulded as she pleases, but enduring as marble to retain.

4. Kellyanne Conway:

   Biden is back in the basement in Delaware while his Democratic Party struggles to retain control of the House and Senate, this is fitting, given that Biden’s disastrous policies and habit of ignoring the will of the people as expressed in polls has contributed to his own disapproval rating and the existential threat to a Democratic majority.

5. Shane Stringer:

   I am deeply thankful to my colleagues in the Legislature for passing this constitutional carry measure, which allows Alabamians to exercise their fundamental rights without first having to pay a gun tax in the form of permit fees, those who still wish to purchase a permit for reciprocity with other states or other reasons continue to retain that option under this law.