If you use a computer, you can retain information.
Source: tatoeba (54538)
Retain
/ɹɪˈteɪn/
Synonyms for "retain" (184 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (37)
Strong matches (55)
fan the embersfirmfirm upfreezegethang on toharborhavehave in mindhireholdhold backhold inhold in mindhold on tohusbandimmobilizeinhibitkeepkeep alive
Show 12 more words
keep backkeep by onekeep goingkeep inkeep in memorykeep in mindkeep in reservekeep in storekeep in viewkeep on handkeep outkeep up
Verb(14 words)
foreignizeforeignizesgardergrandfatheredhirehold backkeep backkeep colorkeep current focuskeep onkeep originalkeep the samekeepskept
Related words (92)
Noun(17 words)
latchinglearning conceptsleavesmore keptperpetuatingpreserve formpreserved quantitiesremain intactrememberingretainingrigorous studystorestore lab samplestore upstored electrical energiesstored energy by gravitystored energy density value
Adjective(2 words)
learning activitiesusable energy preserved
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: hold, keep, absorb, archive, balance.
- Sentence evidence is available for retain, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "retain".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "retain"
Keep "retain" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "retain" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "retain", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "retain" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
14 entriesMore specific
6 entriesCollocations
6 entriescustomer retentiondata retentionmemory retentionretained earningsretention policywater retention
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriessimilar
2 entriescontinuepersist in
Translations
50 translations across 23 languages.
Arabic
4 entries- أَبْقَى verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
- أَدَامَ verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
- اِحْتَفَظَ verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
- بَقَّى verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
Bulgarian
2 entries- запазвам verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
- съхранявам verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
Czech
2 entries- ponechat si verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
- uchovat si verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
Dutch
1 entries- behouden verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
Esperanto
1 entries- reteni verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
Finnish
3 entries- pidättää verb (of a body or body organ: to hold back tissue or a substance)
- pitää verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
- säilyttää verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
French
3 entries- conserver verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
- maintenir verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
- retenir verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
Georgian
2 entries- ინარჩუნებს verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
- ინახავს verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
German
1 entries- behalten verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
Gothic
1 entries- 𐌲𐌰𐌷𐌰𐌱𐌰𐌽 verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
Hungarian
1 entries- megtart verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
Irish
1 entries- coinnigh verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
Italian
2 entries- conservare verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
- mantenere verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
Latin
2 entries- habeo verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
- teneo verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
Māori
2 entries- whakapupuri verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
- whakauenuku verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
Norwegian
2 entries- få verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
- motta verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
Old English
1 entries- æthabban verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
Portuguese
1 entries- reter verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
Romanian
1 entries- reține verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
Russian
4 entries- оста́вить verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
- оставля́ть verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
- сохрани́ть verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
- сохраня́ть verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
Spanish
2 entries- detentar (illegitimately) verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
- retener verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
Swedish
2 entries- bevara verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
- få verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
Turkish
4 entries- alıkoymak verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
- elinden kaçırmamak verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
- kaybetmemek verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
- tutmak verb (to keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something))
Sample sentences
52 total sentences available.
These dishes don't retain heat very well.
Source: tatoeba (59191)
I'd retain that old hat if I were you.
Source: tatoeba (246410)
He sacrificed his outstanding career to retain his dignity.
Source: tatoeba (298806)
Showing 4 of 52 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "retain"?
Closest matches include hold, keep, absorb, archive, balance.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "retain"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.