Retain
/rɪˈteɪn/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo keep possession of something; to continue to have or hold something.
/rɪˈteɪn/
To keep possession of something.
She managed to retain her composure during the stressful meeting.
💡 Simply: Imagine you have a favorite toy. To *retain* it means you keep it and don't let it go! Like a team *retaining* their championship title, they keep it.
👶 For kids: To keep something you already have.
More Examples
The castle walls retained their defensive purpose for centuries.
The company struggled to retain its employees due to low wages.
How It's Used
"The company was able to retain its market share despite the competition."
"The lawyer was retained by the client to represent them in court."
To remember or keep in one's mind.
/rɪˈteɪn/
It can be hard to retain facts if you don't study regularly.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're learning new facts. To *retain* them means you're able to remember them later. Like a student trying to *retain* information from their textbook before a test.
👶 For kids: To remember something.
More Examples
The brain is designed to retain the important information.
He struggles to retain new vocabulary words.
How It's Used
"It's difficult to retain all the information from a long lecture."
"She was able to retain vivid memories of her childhood."
Synonyms & Antonyms
From Middle English *re(t)einen*, from Old French *retenir* ('to keep, hold'), from Latin *retinēre* ('to hold back, keep, retain'), from *re-* ('back, again') + *tenēre* ('to hold').
The word *retain* has been used since the 14th century, evolving from meaning 'to hold back' to 'to keep in possession' and 'to remember'.
Memory tip
Think of 're-gain', implying holding onto something you already had.
Word Origin
"to hold back, keep"