retain

[ ri-teyn ]

verb (used with object)

1. to keep possession of.

   Synonyms: preserve, hold

   Antonyms: lose, loose

2. to continue to use, practice, etc.:

   to retain an old custom.

3. to continue to hold or have:

   to retain a prisoner in custody; a cloth that retains its color.

4. to keep in mind; remember.

   Antonyms: forget

5. to hold in place or position.
6. to engage, especially by payment of a preliminary fee:

   to retain a lawyer.

7. Medicine/Medical. to keep in the body, especially abnormally; fail to eliminate:

   I was referred to a specialty clinic and they discovered that I was retaining urine.

retain

/ rɪˈteɪn /

verb

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
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 to engage the services of (a barrister) by payment of a preliminary fee
7. (in selling races) to buy back a winner that one owns when it is auctioned after the race
8. (of racehorse trainers) to pay an advance fee to (a jockey) so as to have prior or exclusive claims upon his services throughout the season

Derived Forms

• reˈtainment, noun
• reˈtainable, adjective

Other Words From

• re·tain·a·ble adjective
• re·tain·a·bil·i·ty [ri-tey-n, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], re·tain·a·ble·ness noun
• re·tain·ment noun
• non·re·tain·a·ble adjective
• non·re·tain·ment noun
• un·re·tain·a·ble adjective
• un·re·tain·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of retain¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English reteinen, from Old French retenir, from Latin retinēre “to hold back, hold fast,” equivalent to re- re- + -tinēre, combining form of tenēre “to hold”

Word History and Origins

Origin of retain¹

C14: from Old French retenir , from Latin retinēre to hold back, from re- + tenēre to hold

Synonym Study

See keep.

Related Words

• absorb
• cling to
• contain
• enjoy
• have
• hold
• keep
• maintain
• own
• possess
• preserve
• recognize