retained 1 of 2

adjective

as in possessed

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retained

2 of 2

verb

past tense of retain
1
as in kept
to continue to have in one's possession or power I plan to retain the family heirlooms until my own children are mature enough to appreciate them, and then I will lovingly pass them on

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2
as in owned
to keep, control, or experience as one's own that author retains the right to veto any changes in his books suggested by his publisher's notoriously intrusive editor

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3
as in employed
to provide with a paying job her neighbor retained her as a nanny for the summer, thus giving her something to do until school started again

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of retained
Adjective
No Kansas justice has ever been non-retained. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2026
Verb
Some of its superconducting magnets will be retained for the new Electron-Ion Collider rather than discarded. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026 Consider healthcare, where certain records may need to be retained for years to meet regulatory requirements, even as the access model around them becomes outdated. — Nick Burling, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026 The surroundings and lighting can then be rebuilt, with the actors’ original performances retained. — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026 Even after Candle’s founding, the pair were retained by former Disney CEO Bob Iger as consultants. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026 Similarly, Kelly Saco and Jeremy Tache -- who were retained as sideline reporters -- are viewed by the Marlins as assets not only as broadcasters but also, to an extent, as Marlins ambassadors who promote the product. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2026 Atlanta already had a franchise-record 30-win season behind it and retained a core that included All-Star guards Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard and two-time WNBA champion Jordin Canada. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026 And Gowanus, for now, has still retained some of its human-scale landscape of auto garages, art studios, coffee shops, dive bars, restaurants, rowhouses, warehouses, and breweries as well as a climbing gym and several concert venues. — Kim Velsey, Curbed, 9 Oct. 2026 The communists, even with their party leaders imprisoned or in hiding, retained 81 out of 100 seats. — Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retained
  1. possessed
  2. kept
  3. owned
  4. employed
  5. held
  6. had
  7. hired
  8. preserved
Adjective
  • When the possessed Katie eventually joins the family in Albuquerque, New Mexico, there is much Catholic prayer on the part of Larissa’s mother Carmen (Verónica Falcón).
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Religious horror films offer narratives of meaning, mystery, and morality, shaping how power, belief, and the body—both pure and possessed—are understood.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 8 July 2026
Definition of possessed
Verb
  • But Netanyahu’s government wanted the existing framework kept intact, according to multiple sources who spoke to TIME, including an Israeli official and an international diplomat.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Leavitt connected with nine different receivers and kept scrambles to a minimum, rushing just 4 times for 11 yards.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of kept
Verb
  • Investigations also could reach private businesses, such as those owned by billionaire GOP megadonor Elon Musk, that played a significant role in shaping administration policies.
    — Daniel C. Vock, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • During that time, Mallard owned Mallard Dynasty Realty Group, which provided real estate and property management services.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of owned
Verb
  • In January 2025, the federal government employed more than 3 million people.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Asked about the most difficult decision of her career, Lewin pointed to the closure of ILM’s Singapore studio, which ILM announced in August 2023 and which employed more than 300 people.
    — Callum McLennan, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of employed
Verb
  • The rapper, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, has been held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center since he was arrested in September 2024.
    — Daniel S. Levine, People.com, 6 Aug. 2025
  • That means every state budget could be held hostage until the whims of a small fraction of legislators is satisfied.
    — Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 6 Aug. 2025
Definition of held
Verb
  • Since 1950, Kentucky has had 12 Democratic governors, compared to only five in Iowa.
    — Gabrielle M. Etzel, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The character had the same condition as Mitte, though more pronounced.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of had
Verb
  • Alejandro Diaz, whom Xuan hired as an eviction manager for his real estate firm, accused Xuan of trying to break down a tenant’s door in Apple Valley and using a Taser to shock another renter’s dog, according to the civil suit.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • By July, the side project turned into a full-time job when MLB hired Weingardt as a principal product manager to explore changes to its flagship app.
    — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of hired
Verb
  • The ship's smokestacks and other elements have been preserved for the museum.
    — Laura Fay, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • At the time of Hellewell's murder, DNA evidence was collected and preserved.
    — Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of preserved

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retain
retained
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Cite this Entry

“Retained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retained. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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