Synonyms for retain
Definitions
- v. 1
Often followed by from: to hold back (someone or something); to check, to prevent, to restrain, to stop. To hold back (a pupil) instead of allowing them to advance to the next class or year; to keep back.
- v. 2
Often followed by from: to hold back (someone or something); to check, to prevent, to restrain, to stop.
Related words
Forms
- Past participle
- retained
e.g. retained → detained, continued, remembered, engaged…
Example sentences
- withhold The government began to withhold foreign reserves.
- continue We have to continue doing this until it gets done.
- reserve Melt the butter in a saucepan at low heat; reserve.
- hire Have you already decided who you're going to hire?
- engage I'd like to engage in foreign trade in the future.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| retain | steady | |
| withhold | falling | |
| continue | steady | |
| reserve | falling | |
| hire | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- keep1, hold1, hire2
- 6 letters
- engage2, detain2
- 7 letters
- reserve2
- 8 letters
- remember3, continue3, withhold2
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (hire2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- retenir
- Italiano
- trattenere
- Español
- retener
- Deutsch
- einbehalten