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
Among adults who had Medicaid prior to the start of the unwinding, 83% retained their coverage or reenrolled, while 8% found other insurance and 8% were uninsured.
—
Phil Galewitz, NPR, 18 Apr. 2024
In February's recall election, Wise retained her seat in a race against Jennifer Hribar.
—Alec Johnson, Journal Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2024
The commemorative timepiece retains the design and dimensions of the standard-issue Speedmaster but is made from 18-karat gold instead of steel.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 18 Apr. 2024
The Miami Herald retains editorial control of all work.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2024
But by the 1800s, costs had come down, and rhubarb still retained its allure.
—Corey Buhay, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Apr. 2024
The phone retains many of the Ultra's key features including the same 6.67-inch screen, IP68 rating, and 125W wired/50W wireless charging.
—Sarah Lord, PCMAG, 16 Apr. 2024
Last month, Georgia passed an additional 4% raise for state employees, which the governor has been pushing to retain quality workers.
—Leonardo Bevilacqua, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Apr. 2024
Even as Coachella grows year after year, the festival retains its sense of wonder.
—Danielle Dorsey, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
Phil Galewitz, NPR, 18 Apr. 2024
In February's recall election, Wise retained her seat in a race against Jennifer Hribar.
—Alec Johnson, Journal Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2024
The commemorative timepiece retains the design and dimensions of the standard-issue Speedmaster but is made from 18-karat gold instead of steel.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 18 Apr. 2024
The Miami Herald retains editorial control of all work.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2024
But by the 1800s, costs had come down, and rhubarb still retained its allure.
—Corey Buhay, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Apr. 2024
The phone retains many of the Ultra's key features including the same 6.67-inch screen, IP68 rating, and 125W wired/50W wireless charging.
—Sarah Lord, PCMAG, 16 Apr. 2024
Last month, Georgia passed an additional 4% raise for state employees, which the governor has been pushing to retain quality workers.
—Leonardo Bevilacqua, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Apr. 2024
Even as Coachella grows year after year, the festival retains its sense of wonder.
—Danielle Dorsey, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'retain.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near retain
Cite this Entry
“Retain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retain. Accessed 22 Apr. 2024.
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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