1
as in keeps
to continue to have in one's possession or power
I plan to retain the family heirlooms until my own children are mature enough to appreciate them, and then I will lovingly pass them on
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in owns
to keep, control, or experience as one's own
that author retains the right to veto any changes in his books suggested by his publisher's notoriously intrusive editor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in employs
to provide with a paying job
her neighbor retained her as a nanny for the summer, thus giving her something to do until school started again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of retains
Save Victoria Park retains hope that the decision can be reversed, saying that applications for the park’s permanent legal protection are still being evaluated.
—
Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 7 Jan. 2026
While many are now driven primarily by economic interests, a subset retains insurgent, ant-imperialist commitments.
—Rebecca Hanson, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
According to Derocha and Gentile, roasting it with the skin retains moisture, keeping the meat juicy.
—Laura Schober, Health, 5 Jan. 2026
The News retains full editorial control of this coverage.
—Lana Ferguson, Dallas Morning News, 5 Jan. 2026
Le Creuset Signature 8-Quart Oval Dutch Oven Designed with enameled cast iron, this round 8-quart pot heats quickly and retains heat and flavor efficiently.
—Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 4 Jan. 2026
Her Mary retains the manic spirit of Escola’s Tony-winning performance while still feeling wholly her own.
—Keaton Bell, Vogue, 2 Jan. 2026
The aircraft retains the performance of a frontline fighter.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 31 Dec. 2025
The Free Press retains editorial control of this work.
—Beki San Martin, Freep.com, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retains
Verb
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Utopia Bedding Quilted Comforter This Utopia Bedding comforter keeps my bed looking super fluffy and cloud-like and gives my bedroom an expensive look.—
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Leave it to one of the best luggage brands to come out with a revolutionary zipper that is three times stronger than a traditional zipper, as well as an anti-microbial lining that keeps odor-causing bacteria from thriving.—
Verb
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Penske Media owns the Golden Globes, Luminate and major entertainment publications that cover podcasts such as Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.—
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According to the 2025 annual meeting proxy, Abel owns Berkshire shares currently valued at around $171 million.—
Verb
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The police department employs two full-time officers and four part-time officers, according to Masontown Borough Police Chief Timothy O'Barto.—
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South Florida Equestrian Village alone employs more than 1,000 people.—
Verb
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One cheerfully holds a toothbrush, her hair wrapped in a matching second towel (for me, a universal symbol of maturity and womanhood.—
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Outside of the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North, who both stand alone as the only squads in their division with winning records, every other divisional leader holds only a slim edge over rivals in hot pursuit.—
Verb
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This previously-$30 set of Merino wool socks already has an excellent value, but the new price point is even sweeter.—
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The bakery has two trailers on the property that are used for housing and as a test kitchen for the bakers.—
Verb
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Hamas is seemingly rebuilding its military capabilities, including its tunnel infrastructure damaged by Israeli airstrikes, and bringing in new cash that pays its fighters and hires new recruits.—
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The one-time toothpaste mascot only begins to find his way when an unexpected acting call leads him to start working for a rental family service, which hires him out to play stand-in roles in strangers’ lives.—
Verb
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Warner possesses valuable European sports rights that would require government approvals to sell.—
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The governor of New York possesses the authority, under the state constitution and the New York City Charter, to remove mayors and other local officials from office.—
Verb
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Ball enjoys every second of their interactions, too.—
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Rose also enjoys playing with dolls, carefully giving each one its own name and unique personality.—
Cite this Entry
“Retains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retains. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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