The meaning of RETAIN is to keep in possession or use. How to use retain in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Retain.

RETAINING definition: 1. present participle of retain 2. to keep or continue to have something: 3. If a substance…. Learn more.

Salespeople have developed novel ways to use the Web to reach or retain customers. You retain the right to take legal action if you do not accept his decision. retain …

Synonyms for RETAINING: retention, holding, keeping, possession, hands, control, support, custody; Antonyms of RETAINING: relinquishment, surrendering, dispossession, transferal, nonpossession, yielding, relinquishing, releasing

To keep possession of; continue to have: The family sold the house but retained the land. See Synonyms at keep. b. To keep in a particular place or condition: a library that retains the author's papers; plants that retain a lot of water. c. To continue to have as a feature or aspect: retains his good humor after all the setbacks. 2.

To retain is to keep or maintain, whether in mind, possession or a certain condition. If you have a great personal assistant, you'll probably want to retain him for as long as you can. If your body is retaining water you might look a little plump. The verbs restrain and detain sound similar, but they mean to keep something by force.

To retain something means to continue to have that thing. The interior of the shop still retains a nineteenth-century atmosphere. [VERB noun] He retains a deep respect for the profession. …

retain something to continue to hold or contain something. These plants will need a soil that retains moisture during the summer months. This information is no longer retained within the computer's main memory. (figurative) She has a good memory and finds it easy to retain facts.

They insisted on retaining old customs. You will retain your rights as a citizen. The TV show has retained its popularity for many years. The company's goal is to attract and retain good …

There are two meanings listed in OED's entry for the adjective retaining. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.