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1. Dictionary

   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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   More definitions, origin and scrabble points

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

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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

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

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › retain

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   The meaning of RETAIN is to keep in possession or use. How to use retain in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Retain.

4. 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. [VERB noun] He retains a deep respect for the profession. [VERB noun] Other countries retained their traditional and habitual ways of doing things. [VERB noun]

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

   www.dictionary.com › browse › retain

   • Cached

   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.

6. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishretain verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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   retain something to keep something; to continue to have something synonym preserve. to retain your independence; He struggled to retain control of the situation. The house retains much of its original charm. She retained her tennis title for the third year.

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

   www.thefreedictionary.com › retain

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   To keep possession of; continue to have: The family sold the house but retained the land. See Synonyms at keep. b. To keep in a particular place or condition: a library that retains the author's papers; plants that retain a lot of water. c. To continue to have as a feature or aspect: retains his good humor after all the setbacks. 2.

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

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › retain

   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.

9. www.collinsdictionary.com › us › dictionaryRETAIN definition in American English - Collins Online Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › us › dictionary

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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 /

10. www.wordreference.com › definition › retainretain - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

    www.wordreference.com › definition › retain

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    to keep possession of. 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. to hold in place or position. to engage, esp. by payment of a preliminary fee: to retain a lawyer.

11. www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › retainretain | meaning of retain in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary...

    www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › retain

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    retain meaning, definition, what is retain: to keep something or continue to have so...: Learn more.