Retain

Quick meaning: Retain is a verb meaning Often followed by from: to hold back (someone or something); to check, to prevent, to restrain, to stop.

Meaning

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

More Meanings

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

Example Sentences

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.

[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, […]

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, […]

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.

Word Forms

• retains
• retaining
• retained
• retainest
• retainedst
• retaineth

Synonyms for retain

Depending on context, synonyms include retainal, retaining, retinue, engage, hold, keep.

Antonyms for retain

Common opposites include remit.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include keep, continue, reserve, hold, engage, retention.

Related Dictionary Tools