verb

retain

to retain, to keep, to remember

The company needs to retain its best employees.

The company needs to retain its best employees.

This material retains heat very well.

This material retains heat very well.

He could retain a lot of information.

He could retain a lot of information.

((sth.)) to keep or continue to have (sth.) The company needs to retain its best employees.

Synonyms: keep, hold, maintain; Antonyms: lose, release, forget

From Latin 're-' (back) + 'tenere' (to hold). Literally 'to hold back'.

Think of a dental 'retainer' which 'retains' the shape of your teeth.

This page is designed for learning support. Please use it as a learning reference, not as a formal reference.