ENGLISH
REFERENCE

retained

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ɹiˈteɪnd// UK //ɹɪtˈeɪnd// re·tained

v. to keep or continue to have something. You use this when you don't lose or give away a quality, a person, or an object.

v. to continue to possess, hold, or maintain something; to keep in one's pay or service. Transitive — requires a direct object.


SIMPLE

The company retained its best employees despite the crisis.

CONTEXTUAL

The old building has retained many of its original features even after the modern renovation.

COMPLEX

Although the legal team was officially dismissed, the lead consultant was retained on a part-time basis to ensure a smooth transition for the new firm.

Synonyms
Usage

The verb is transitive and often used in formal or professional contexts regarding rights, staff, or physical properties.

Pitfall

The water was retained from the soilThe soil retained the waterRetain is an active transitive verb; the container or possessor is the subject, not the object of a preposition like 'from'.

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