Meaning & use
retain
To continue to have or keep something, such as a quality, position, memory, or possession.
See it in a sentence
Despite the renovations, the old house retained much of its original charm.
Students who review material regularly retain information better than those who cram.
A note on using this word
Retain is more formal than keep and is common in legal, academic, and business contexts, such as retaining a lawyer or retaining employees.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Make it your own
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