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retain - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'retain' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Retain [ v. i.]
- To belong; to pertain.
- To keep; to continue; to remain.
2 . Retain [ v. t.]
- To continue to hold; to keep in possession; not to lose, part with, or dismiss; to retrain from departure, escape, or the like.
- To keep in pay; to employ by a preliminary fee paid; to hire; to engage; as, to retain a counselor.
- To restrain; to prevent.

Meaning of 'retain' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . retain [ v]
Meaning (1):
- keep in one's mind
Example in sentence:
  • I cannot retain so much information
Meaning (2):
- secure and keep for possible future use or application
Example in sentence:
  • I reserve the right to disagree;
  • The landlord retained the security deposit
Meaning (3):
- hold back within
Example in sentence:
  • I retain this drug for a long time;
  • the dam retains the water;
  • This soil retains water
Meaning (4):
- allow to remain in a place or position or maintain a property or feature
Example in sentence:
  • Our grant has run out and we cannot keep you on;
  • She retained her composure;
  • She retains a lawyer;
  • The family's fortune waned and they could not keep their household staff;
  • this garment retains its shape even after many washings;
  • We cannot continue several servants any longer;
  • We kept the work going as long as we could

Nearby Words:

ret retable retail retailed retailer retailing retailment retainable retainal retained

See 'retain' also in:

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