Retain: meaning, definitions and examples
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retain
[ rɪˈteɪn ]
memory
To keep or continue to have something; to hold onto something; to remember something.
Synonyms
hold on to, keep, maintain, preserve, remember
Examples of usage
- He tried to retain the information for the exam.
- She struggled to retain her composure in front of the audience.
- We need to retain our customers by providing excellent service.
- They decided to retain the original design for the building.
- The key to retaining information is through practice.
legal
To keep someone in a particular position or place; to employ someone on a permanent basis.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The company decided to retain him as their legal counsel.
- She was retained as a consultant for the project.
business
The act of keeping something in one's possession; the ability to keep customers, employees, or members.
Synonyms
keeping, loyalty, maintenance, preservation
Examples of usage
- Customer retention is crucial for the success of any business.
- The company focused on employee retention by offering competitive benefits.
Translations
Translations of the word "retain" in other languages:
🇵🇹 reter
- manter
- conservar
🇮🇳 रखना
- बनाए रखना
- संजोना
🇩🇪 behalten
- bewahren
- aufrechterhalten
🇮🇩 menahan
- mempertahankan
- menyimpan
🇺🇦 зберігати
- утримувати
- залишати
🇵🇱 zachować
- utrzymać
- zatrzymać
🇯🇵 保持する（ほじする）
- 維持する（いじする）
- 保管する（ほかんする）
🇫🇷 retenir
- maintenir
- conserver
🇪🇸 retener
- mantener
- conservar
🇹🇷 tutmak
- muhafaza etmek
- korumak
🇰🇷 유지하다
- 보유하다
- 간직하다
🇸🇦 احتفظ
- حافظ
- صان
🇨🇿 udržet
- zachovat
- ponechat
🇸🇰 udržať
- zachovať
- ponechať
🇨🇳 保留 (bǎoliú)
- 维持 (wéichí)
- 保存 (bǎocún)
🇸🇮 ohraniti
- zadržati
- vzdrževati
🇮🇸 halda
- varðveita
- viðhalda
🇰🇿 сақтау
- ұстап қалу
- сақтау
🇬🇪 შენახვა
- შენარჩუნება
- დაცვა
🇦🇿 saxlamaq
- qorumaq
- mühafizə etmək
🇲🇽 retener
- mantener
- conservar
Word origin
The word 'retain' originated from the Latin word 'retinere', meaning 'to hold back'. It entered the English language in the late 14th century. Over the centuries, 'retain' has evolved to encompass various meanings related to holding, keeping, and remembering. It has been widely used in legal, business, and everyday contexts to denote the act of preserving, maintaining, or continuing to possess something.
See also: retained, retaining, retention, unretained.