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   retain

   /rɪˈteɪn/

   verb

   • 1. continue to have (something); keep possession of: "built in 1830, the house retains many of its original features" Similar keepkeep possession ofkeep hold ofhold on tohold fast tokeep backhang on tocling toliterary:cleave tomaintainkeepcontinuepreservereserveconserveperpetuatecherishOpposite give uploseabolishdiscontinuealter
   • ▪ not abolish or alter; maintain: "the rights of defendants must be retained" Similar maintainkeepcontinuepreservereserveconserveperpetuatecherishOpposite abolishdiscontinuealter
   • ▪ keep in one's memory: "I retained a few French words and phrases" Similar remembermemorizekeep in one's mindkeep in one's memorylearnlearn by heartget by heartcommit to memoryget down patlearn by roteimpress on the memorybecome word-perfect inrecallcall to mindrecollectthink ofsucceed in rememberingget off patarchaic:conOpposite forget
   • 2. absorb and continue to hold (a substance): "limestone is known to retain water"
   • 3. keep (something) in place; hold fixed: "the successful design of a cartridge belt requires that the cartridges in it be properly located and retained in that position"
   • 4. keep (someone) engaged in one's service: "he has been retained as a freelance" Similar employcommissioncontractpaykeep on the payrollhave in employmenthireengageappointrecruitput on the payrollsecure the services ofsign onsign uptake ontake into one's employOpposite dismiss
   • ▪ secure the services of (a barrister) with a preliminary payment: "retain a barrister to handle the client's business"

   Word Origin late Middle English: via Anglo-Norman French from Old French retenir, from Latin retinere, from re- ‘back’ + tenere ‘hold’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. retainability noun
   • 2. retainable adjective
   • 3. retainment noun

   Scrabble Points: 6

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2. People also ask

   What does retaining mean?

   • to keep possession of. to retain an old custom. to retain a prisoner in custody; a cloth that retains its color. to keep in mind; remember. to hold in place or position. to retain a lawyer. I was referred to a specialty clinic and they discovered that I was retaining urine.

   RETAIN Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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   What is the meaning of retainer?

   • 2. to be able to hold or contain: soil that retains water. 5. to keep for one's future use, as by paying a retainer or nominal charge: to retain one's rooms for the holidays. 6. (Law) law to engage the services of (a barrister) by payment of a preliminary fee 7.

   Retain - definition of retain by The Free Dictionary

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   What does it mean to retain a person?

   • Retain means to hold on to or keep. People who can retain a lot of information are often mistaken for geniuses, but really they just have very good memories. To retain is to keep or maintain, whether in mind, possession or a certain condition. If you have a great personal assistant, you'll probably want to retain him for as long as you can.

   Retain - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com

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   What is the meaning of keep?

   • 1. maintain, keep, reserve, preserve, keep up, uphold, nurture, continue to have, hang or hold onto He retains a deep respect for the profession. 2. keep, keep possession of, hang or hold onto, save, preserve, cling to, conserve, hold fast to They want to retain a strip 33ft wide on the eastern shore.

   Retain - definition of retain by The Free Dictionary

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   What is the difference between retaining and detain?

   • To retain is to keep or maintain, whether in mind, possession or a certain condition. If you have a great personal assistant, you'll probably want to retain him for as long as you can. If your body is retaining water you might look a little plump. The verbs restrain and detain sound similar, but they mean to keep something by force.

   Retain - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com

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   What is the difference between keep and detain?

   • keep, retain, detain, withhold, reserve mean to hold in one's possession or under one's control. keep may suggest a holding securely in one's possession, custody, or control. retain implies continued keeping, especially against threatened seizure or forced loss. detain suggests a delay in letting go.

   Retain Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

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3. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishRETAIN | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   RETAIN definition: 1. to keep or continue to have something: 2. If a substance retains something, such as heat or…. Learn more.

   • English (US)

     RETAIN meaning: 1. to keep or continue to have something: 2....

   • Znaczenie Retain, Definicja W Cambridge English Dictionary

     RETAIN definicja: 1. to keep or continue to have something:...

   • Retain in Simplified Chinese

     RETAIN translate: 保持;保留;保有, 保存;留住;容纳, 付定金聘请（律师）. Learn more...

   • Retain in Traditional Chinese

     RETAIN translate: 保持;保留;保有, 保存;留住;容納, 付定金聘請（律師）. Learn more...

   • Retain: French Translation

     RETAIN translate: retenir, conserver, retenir, retenir,...

   • Retain: German Translation

     RETAIN translate: bewahren, zurückhalten. Learn more in the...

   • Retain: Russian Translation

     RETAIN translate: сохранять, удерживать . Learn more in the...

   • Retain: Polish Translation

     RETAIN translate: zatrzymywać, zachowywać, zachować (dla...

4. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › retainRetain Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › retain

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   Oct 25, 2024 · The meaning of RETAIN is to keep in possession or use. How to use retain in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Retain.

5. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishRETAIN definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   To retain something means to continue to have that thing. The interior of the shop still retains a nineteenth-century atmosphere. American English : retain / rɪˈteɪn /

6. www.dictionary.com › browse › retainRETAIN Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › retain

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   verb (used with object) to keep possession of. Synonyms: preserve, hold. Antonyms: lose, loose. to continue to use, practice, etc.: to retain an old custom. to continue to hold or have: to retain a prisoner in custody; a cloth that retains its color. to keep in mind; remember.

7. www.thefreedictionary.com › retainRetain - definition of retain by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › retain

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   1. to keep in one's possession. 2. to be able to hold or contain: soil that retains water. 3. (of a person) to be able to remember (information, facts, etc) without difficulty. 4. to hold in position.

8. dictionary.cambridge.org › english › retainRETAIN | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › english › retain

   • Cached

   RETAIN meaning: 1. to keep or continue to have something: 2. If a substance retains something, such as heat or…. Learn more.

9. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › retainRetain - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › retain

   verb. allow to remain in a place or position or maintain a property or feature. “She retains a lawyer”. “She retained her composure”. “this garment retains its shape even after many washings”. synonyms: continue, keep, keep on. continue, persist in.