retain
To keep or continue to have something
Examples
In a meeting
“We need to retain our best employees with competitive benefits.”
Over coffee
“I can't retain information when I'm this tired.”
Why this word
keep
retain implies deliberate preservation of something valuable that might otherwise be lost
maintain
retain focuses on continued possession or holding, while maintain emphasizes upkeep
hold
retain is more formal and suggests conscious effort to preserve something important
Usage tip
Use when something valuable should be kept or maintained; applies to employees, information, or possessions
Etymology
Latin 'retinere' from 're-' (back) + 'tenere' (to hold)
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