retain
gb/ɹɪtˈeɪn/ us/ɹɪtˈeɪn/
B2
English
~ 1600
megtart, megjegyez, megbíz, felfogad
VERB
B2
1
megtart
A2
Usage pattern:
to retain [something]
She worked hard to retain her position at the company.
Keményen dolgozott, hogy megtartsa az állását a cégnél.
The team managed to retain control of the ball.
A csapatnak sikerült megtartania az irányítást a labda felett.
You should drink water to retain your energy during the hike.
The organization will retain ownership of the building.
He retained possession of the key documents.
Learner examples
I want to retain my job.
Meg akarom tartani az állásomat.
She retained her old books.
Megtartotta a régi könyveit.
We must retain this land.
They try to retain their customers.
He retained his seat on the bus.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'retain' in casual contexts where 'keep' is more natural, making the sentence sound overly formal.
Meaning
Continue to have something
Collocations
retain control
|retain ownership
|retain rights
|retain information
|retain possession
Synonyms
keep (More common and general in everyday speech; 'retain' is slightly more formal.)
Antonyms
lose (Opposite in meaning; to no longer have something.)
Themes
daily life
|business
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To keep something and not give it away or lose it.
To continue to have, hold, or keep possession of something.
VERB
B2
2
megjegyez
A2
Usage pattern:
to retain [information/knowledge/facts]
It's difficult to retain so many dates for the history exam.
Nehéz ennyi évszámot megjegyezni a történelemvizsgára.
Children can retain new words more easily than adults.
A gyerekek könnyebben megjegyzik az új szavakat, mint a felnőttek.
She retains a lot of information from her college days.
I can't retain all these technical terms.
Learner examples
I can retain many English words.
Sok angol szót meg tudok jegyezni.
He retains what he reads.
Megjegyzi, amit olvas.
She cannot retain numbers well.
We retain facts from school.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'retain' with 'memorize'; 'memorize' is about learning, while 'retain' is about keeping that knowledge over time.
Meaning
Keep information in memory
Collocations
retain knowledge
|retain memory
|retain facts
|retain details
Synonyms
remember ('Remember' is more common and less formal; 'retain' suggests holding knowledge over time.)
Antonyms
forget (Opposite in meaning; to be unable to remember information.)
Themes
education
|psychology
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To remember information for some time.
To keep information in one's memory; to remember facts or knowledge over time.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
to retain [someone/professional]
The company decided to retain its legal counsel for another year.
A vállalat úgy döntött, hogy további egy évre megbízza a jogi tanácsadóját.
We retained a consultant to help with the project.
Megbíztunk egy tanácsadót, hogy segítsen a projektben.
She retained the same financial advisor for over a decade.
Learner examples
I will retain a lawyer for my case.
Megbízok egy ügyvédet az ügyemmel.
They retained an expert for advice.
Szakértőt bíztak meg tanácsadással.
We retained a teacher for extra lessons.
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'retain' here means 'keep possession of'; in this context, it means to keep paying for someone's services.
Meaning
Keep someone’s professional services
Collocations
retain a lawyer
|retain an advisor
|retain a consultant
Synonyms
hire ('Hire' is more general; 'retain' is used especially for ongoing professional services.)
Antonyms
dismiss (Opposite in meaning; to end someone's employment or services.)
Themes
business
|law
Definition
To pay someone, like a lawyer, so they will work for you when needed.
To employ and continue to pay for the services of a professional, especially a lawyer or consultant.
VERB
B2
TECHNICAL
4
megtart
B1
Usage pattern:
to retain [heat/moisture/liquid]
The walls are designed to retain heat in winter.
A falakat úgy tervezték, hogy télen bent tartsák a hőt.
This soil retains water well after rain.
Ez a talaj eső után jól megtartja a vizet.
The towel retains moisture even after being wrung out.
Learner examples
The pot retains heat for hours.
Az edény órákig megtartja a hőt.
This sponge retains water well.
Ez a szivacs jól megtartja a vizet.
The soil retains moisture.
Common mistake:
Learners might confuse 'retain' with 'absorb'; but something can absorb and not necessarily keep it for long.
Meaning
Hold liquid, heat, etc.
Collocations
retain heat
|retain moisture
|retain water
Synonyms
absorb ('Absorb' means take in; 'retain' means both take in and keep.)
Antonyms
release (Opposite in meaning; to let go of what is held inside.)
Themes
science
|cooking
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To hold liquid, heat, or another thing inside and not let it go.
To keep liquid, heat, or another substance inside without releasing it.
Grammar
Dictionary form
retain
IPA
GB/ɹɪtˈeɪn/
US/ɹɪtˈeɪn/
Syllables & stress
re - tain (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tain)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: retain
- 3rd Person Singular: retains
- Present Participle: retaining
- Past: retained
Word family
Forms
retains
verb
retaining
verb
retained
verb
Core family
retention
noun B2
Related words
retainer
noun
retentive
adjective
Advanced or less common
retainable
adjective
Expressions
retain control
1/ɹɪtˈeɪn kəntɹˈoʊl/
fixed phrase
Continue having authority or influence
To keep power over something or someone and not lose it.
Examples
- Despite the challenges, she managed to retain control of the project.
- The army retained control of the region after the conflict.
retain ownership
1/ɹɪtˈeɪn ˈoʊnɚʃˌɪp/
fixed phrase
Continue having legal possession
To keep legal rights over property or something you own.
Examples
- They sold part of the business but retained ownership of the main brand.
- You can lease the land but still retain ownership.
retain rights
1/ɹɪtˈeɪn ɹˈaɪts/
fixed phrase
Continue having entitlements
To keep your legal or moral right to something.
Examples
- Authors usually retain rights to their work under this contract.
- She retains rights over the songs she wrote.