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- pronunciation:
- rih
teIn
- features:
- Word Parts
| part of speech: |
verb |
| inflections: |
retains, retaining, retained |
| definition 1: |
When you retain something, you keep it. When a thing retains something, it doesn't let it go.
Sam's mom retained the receipt for the toaster she bought in case she needed to return it.Wearing a winter coat helps retain heat around your body to keep you warm.- synonyms:
- hold, keep, maintain
- antonyms:
- abandon, surrender
- similar words:
- bear, have, preserve, reserve, save, secure, store
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| definition 2: |
When you retain information, you are able to remember it. You don't forget it.
Quizzing yourself helps you retain information that you've studied.Maria retained everything that she learned from her grandmother about gardening.- synonyms:
- remember
- antonyms:
- forget
- similar words:
- have, recall, store
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| definition 3: |
If you retain something, you hold it back or stop it from spreading further. When people retain a disease, they keep it from spreading to many people. If people build a wall to retain sea water, they are doing it to hold the water back.
The fence was built around the yard to retain the three dogs.The city is building up the banks of the river so that high water can be retained in the spring.- synonyms:
- hold
- antonyms:
- abolish
- similar words:
- clasp, grasp, grip, keep
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| related words: |
employ, hold, leave, maintain, own |
| derivations: |
retainable (adj.), retainability (n.), retainment (n.) |
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