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?

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use retain in a sentence?

1. Abigail Spanberger:

   Recruit the best. The best can train police officers across the board and retain them.

2. William J. H. Boetcker:

   That you may retain your self-respect, it is better to displease the people by doing what you know is right, than to temporarily please them by doing what you know is wrong.

3. Madhur Deora:

   Two years ago, we were in this super high investment phase where we were creating a lot of consumer and merchant traction on the platform, we have found that it is easier — much easier — than two years ago to acquire and retain customers, hence, we are spending a lot less.

4. Amarnath Amarasingam:

   I'm not sure what's been happening in Quebec, but it has definitely popped onto the map, this is perhaps partly to do with Quebec’s highly secular culture … but also the struggle to retain a French identity.

5. Sophal Ear:

   He determined that the only way forward would be to retain power by any means necessary, he is setting the stage for whatever may happen next but with him and his family in control, always.