RETAINS Synonyms: 94 Similar and Opposite Words

retains

verb

present tense third-person singular of retain

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 Despite the protests, Vucic retains considerable support among Serbia's voters. — ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026 Despite not receiving the endorsement of the faculty guild, Buelna retains the support of a number of faculty members, including the president of the academic senate, Angela Echeverri. — Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026 On red carpets and social media alike, celebs and trendsetters seem to be moving away from ultra-glowy, glazed donut finishes in favor of skin that retains its texture, depth, and natural glow. — Jeanne Ballion, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026 Twenty-seven years later, the attack on a school in the Denver suburbs retains an archetypal mystique for generations of troubled young people. — Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026 The Duo retains a bit less color detail in low light too, though Night Mode kind of evens out the playing field between them. — Nilay Patel, The Verge, 21 Oct. 2026 The store retains the brand’s spirit, with terrazzo flooring, Odisha tiles and the hearts that have become emblematic of Péro. — Mayu Saini, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026 The company says the light retains its four-source layout—Pure Flood, Spotlight, UV and a green beam—with flood output up to 1,700 lumens and spotlight reach up to 205 meters. — Connie Etemadi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Oct. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for retains

Verb

Elastic edging keeps the machine-washable covers snug across a range of couch shapes, and the collection comes in several colors, weaves and textures to coordinate with most rooms.

— Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2026
This method prevents nitrogen from diluting the exhaust gas, which hinders combustion and keeps the CO₂ concentration relatively low.

— Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of keeps

Verb

Colossal owns a stake and licenses its technology to the startup.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
In Los Angeles, the Chetrit Organization also owns the long-idle Trinity Auditorium, also known as the Embassy Auditorium and Embassy Hotel.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of owns

Verb

Our parent company, CRH, employs 1,278 people across 59 locations in 48 North Carolina communities to produce the aggregates, asphalt, masonry products, pipe, and precast solutions that make construction possible.

— Kevin Blackwell, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026
And when a trillion-dollar company receives generous tax incentives for a building that employs relatively few permanent workers, local officials are entitled to ask what their constituents are getting.

— Zev Laine, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of employs

Verb

There is a build up of dust on the chain that holds the cup dispenser suspended above the ice cream station.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
One other consideration was the Dream’s primary home, Gateway Center Arena in College Park, which holds about 3,500.

— Rod Beard, AJC.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of holds

Verb

Constant calls demanding others pay for every social cause regardless of cost has its limits.

— Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
Both approaches require costly infrastructure, but while exports could quickly fill government coffers, using gas to fuel industrialization has the potential to deliver a larger long-term payoff.

— Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of has

Verb

This becomes especially important when a business enters another state, hires employees in a new jurisdiction, changes its legal structure or begins working with international customers and suppliers.

— Prasanna Kumar, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
GoCardless hires graduates from any discipline but still encourages them to qualify as accountants and pays for the exams.

— Sam Birchall, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of hires

Verb

The tri-captain possesses a certain gravitas that has helped drive the Warriors to the Class 2A state championship game, according to junior midfielder and tri-captain Lino Melero.

— Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026
Each of the three theaters also possesses a distinct spatial character.

— Wendy Wang, Architectural Digest, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of possesses

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retaining

retains

retake

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Style

“Retains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retains. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of retains

verb

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