Meaning

Often followed by from: to hold back (someone or something); to check, to prevent, to restrain, to stop..

Definitions by Sense

1. Often followed by from: to hold back (someone or something); to check, to prevent, to restrain, to stop.
2. Of a thing: to hold or keep (something) inside it; to contain.
3. To hold (something) secure; to prevent (something) from becoming detached or separated.
4. To keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something); to keep back.
5. To keep (something) in place or use, instead of removing or abolishing it; to preserve.
6. To engage or hire (someone), especially temporarily.
7. To keep (someone) in one's pay or service; also, (chiefly historical) to maintain (someone) as a dependent or follower.
8. To control or restrain (oneself); to exercise self-control over (oneself).

Example Sentences

Upon vvhich Prince Henry enraged, took up the Cheſs-board, and ſtruck the Dauphin vvith ſuch Fury on the Head, that he laid him bleeding on the Ground, and had killed him if his Brother Robert had not retained him, and made him ſenſible hovv much more it concerned him to make his Eſcape than purſue his Revenge, […]

[I]f diſtilled Vinegar or Aquafortis be povvred upon the povvder of Loadſtone, the ſubſiding povvder dryed, retaines ſome magneticall vertue, and vvill be attracted by the Loadſtone: […]

Robert of Artoys baniſht though thou be, / From Fraunce thy natiue Country, yet with vs, / Thou ſhalt retayne as great a Seigniorie: / For vve create thee Earle of Richmond heere, […]

Then preacing to the pillour I repeated / The read thereof for guerdon of my paine, / And taking dovvne the ſhield, vvith me did it retaine.

Sir Roger Acton, thou retainſt the name / Of knight, and ſhouldſt be more diſcreetly temperd, / Than ioyne vvith peaſants, gentry is diuine, / But thou haſt made it more then popular.

[S]he [Sabrina, a water nymph] reviv'd, / And undervvent a quicke, immortall change / Made goddeſſe of the river; ſtill ſhe retaines / Her maiden gentleneſſe, […]

And from theſe corporal nutriments perhaps / Your bodies may at laſt turn all to Spirit, / Improv'd by tract of time, and wingd aſcend / Ethereal, as wee, or may at choice / Here or in Heav'nly Paradiſes dwell; / If ye be found obedient, and retain / Unalterably firm his love entire / Whoſe progenie you are.

Thou retaineſt indeed ſtill the external form of the Philadelphian Church, as to Doctrine and VVorſhip; but thou art deſtitute of that Spirit of Life in the Nevv Birth, vvhich vvas the proper character of thy deceaſed Siſter Philadelphia.

Word Forms

• retains
• retaining
• retained
• no-table-tags
• glossary
• retain
• retainest
• retainedst
• retaineth
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Synonyms for retain

Antonyms for retain

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When Should You Use Retain?

Use retain when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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