retain
rih-TAYN
rɪˈteɪn
To continue to have something; to keep possession of; to keep in one's memory.
In the context of memory, 'retain' refers to the storage phase—keeping the information there over time.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'retinere,' meaning 'to hold back.' It is in the same family as 'contain' and 'maintain,' all dealing with the act of holding.
Word relationships
- preserve: Preserve implies active protection from decay; retain is simply keeping.
- lose: Losing is the involuntary cessation of possession.
Commonly confused with
- detain: Detain means to hold someone back or delay them; retain means to keep something.
Word family
- retention (noun): The continued possession, use, or control of something.
- retentive (adjective): Having the ability to remember facts and impressions easily.
Collocations
- retain information
- retain control
- retain heat
- ability to retain
Example sentences
- "The human brain has a remarkable capacity to retain complex patterns over long periods." Educational psychology
- "The company struggled to retain its best employees during the merger." Business
Memory hook
Retain = RE-main in the brain. Hold it back.
When not to use
Don't use 'retain' for the act of bringing a memory up; use it for the act of not forgetting it.
Fun facts
- A 'retaining wall' is a wall built to keep soil from sliding away.
Explore more words
retention, remembrance, Storage, repository, preserve, reminiscence
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