verb

retain

rih-TAYN

verb

To keep possession of something instead of losing or giving it up.

"The team retained the championship title for a third year."

"This fabric retains heat well in cold weather."

To keep something in the memory.

"He struggles to retain new vocabulary after just one lesson."

To hire someone, especially a lawyer, by paying a fee to secure their services.

"The company retained a top law firm for the negotiations."

How to Use Retain

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo keep hold of something — a possession, a memory, or a hired professional.

Common pairings

retain a lawyer retain information retain control

Word Forms

retained past tense, retain plural, retained plural, retains plural, retains singular, retain singular, retainest singular, retained singular, retainedst singular, retaineth singular

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Can you complete this real example?

The team _____ the championship title for a third year.

Etymology

From Old French retenir, from Latin retinere, "to hold back," from re- + tenere ("to hold").

Rhymes for retain

ain rain pain lain gain main vain fain bain Iain Jain Cain

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