retains

verb

present tense third-person singular of retain
1
as in keeps
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in owns
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in employs
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 retains The latest unit retains the same first six forward ratios as the outgoing Carrera T’s manual transmission, but ditches its predecessor’s somewhat awkward and largely superfluous seventh gear. — Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026 Lerner retains her credit as executive proucer alongside Helford; Curtis; Eric and Kim Tannenbaum and Jason Wang for the Tannenbaum Company; Scott Schwartz; and Lionsgate Television. — Selome Hailu, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026 This part of London retains a great variety of period features without many additional modern elements. — Charley Ward, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Oct. 2026 But when the humanoid gets to near-perfect human replication yet retains something robotic in its essence, an ickiness takes hold. — Daniel Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026 But a win in federal appeals court would send a message that the NCAA retains substantial authority to set eligibility rules. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2026 Musk also retains deep ties to the federal government through SpaceX, a major NASA and Pentagon contractor. — Luke Fountain, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026 The design retains a connection to the existing PAC-3 family. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026 The device retains the shape of an electric toothbrush while incorporating light-guiding filaments. — Advertorial, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retains
  1. keeps
  2. owns
  3. employs
  4. holds
  5. has
  6. hires
  7. possesses
  8. enjoys
Verb
  • Highly possible, yet the USA keeps assuring Ukranian leaders that the support of the United States is with them.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
  • One of cosmology’s greatest mysteries is the nature of dark energy—the invisible force that keeps the universe expanding at an ever-increasing rate.
    — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of keeps
Verb
  • Her mother taught her to drive in a 1961 Porsche 356 coupe, a car Brundage now owns.
    — Chris Hardesty, AJC.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • De Soto data center Digital Realty is a global real estate company that owns and operates data centers.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of owns
Verb
  • The program is different from places like The Golden Scoop, an ice cream shop in Overland Park that employs adults with disabilities over longer terms, according to Morgan.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026
  • According to the site’s masthead, the operation—including its video production arm, Texas FilmWorks—employs a staff of more than 40.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of employs
Verb
  • The smaller second bedroom holds the in-unit washer-dryer as well as an en suite bath.
    — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 19 Oct. 2026
  • As chair of Metro’s 13-person board, Bass holds vast power over the Los Angeles County bus and rail network.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of holds
Verb
  • Chinander said his staff has been studying film of Moore’s time as OC at Missouri in 2025, while Danielson also has notes from facing Moore during the latter’s time as OC with Fresno State in 2022.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 21 Oct. 2026
  • At the same time, more than nine in 10 Americans say the federal government has the power to make a positive impact on society — suggesting many believe the current administration is not making use of that power.
    — Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of has
Verb
  • The facility hires the sorts of people who fix their own motorcycles.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
  • This is what happens when a major conference hires a network suit with a baseball background to run things.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of hires
Verb
  • One is that Chris’ soul possesses Billy’s car at her death and turns it into Stephen King’s famous killer car, Christine.
    — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 19 Oct. 2026
  • NDCs are certificates or licenses that signal that a worker possesses a particular qualification or competency.
    — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of possesses
Verb
  • Arasha enjoys a few choice manipulative moves in her litany of parts, reversing situations that seem to have no obvious good outcome.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Ye-ji wants an interview, and Mi-ok enjoys the interest and attention.
    — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of enjoys

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retaining
retains
retake
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Cite this Entry

“Retains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retains. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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