# retaining

/ɹiˈteɪnɪŋ/ (US) · /ɹɪtˈeɪnɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/retaining
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. keeping or continuing to have

verb · CEFR B2

keeping something rather than losing it or giving it away.

For teachers: the act of continuing to possess, use, or hold something; often used in business or cognitive contexts.

- The company is focused on retaining its best employees by offering better benefits.
- Retaining market share in such a volatile economy requires constant innovation and a deep understanding of shifting consumer preferences.

Usage: Often used as a gerund acting as the subject or object of a sentence.

### 2. holding something in place

adjective · CEFR B2 · Technical

designed to hold something back or keep it in a specific position.

For teachers: serving to keep something in place or to restrain movement, particularly in engineering or construction.

- They built a retaining wall to stop the soil from sliding down the hill.
- The structural integrity of the terrace depends entirely on the reinforced retaining wall at the base of the slope.

Usage: Almost exclusively used before the noun it modifies, most commonly 'wall'.

### 3. the act of keeping

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the act of holding onto something or keeping it.

For teachers: the action of retaining or the state of being retained; a synonym for retention in specific formal contexts.

- The retaining of these old records is required by law.
- The systematic retaining of historical documents ensures that future generations can study the evolution of the city's architecture.

Teaching tip: In most modern contexts, 'retention' is the preferred noun form; 'retaining' as a noun feels more like a formal gerund.

## Examples

- The company is focused on retaining its best employees.
- Despite the modern renovations, the old library succeeded in retaining its original historical charm.
- The legal team argued that the defendant was capable of retaining complex instructions, suggesting that the breach of contract was a deliberate choice rather than a misunderstanding.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.