retain
gb/ɹɪtˈeɪn/ us/ɹɪtˈeɪn/
B2
Kiingereza
~ 1600
Maana
maana 0
Kitenzi
B2
action
1
Continue to have something
To keep something and not give it away or lose it.
Muundo wa matumizi:
to retain [something]
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners sometimes use 'retain' in casual contexts where 'keep' is more natural, making the sentence sound overly formal.
Visawe
keep (More common and general in everyday speech; 'retain' is slightly more formal.)
Vinyume
lose (Opposite in meaning; to no longer have something.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
retain control
|retain ownership
|retain rights
|retain information
|retain possession
Mada
daily life
|business
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- She worked hard to retain her position at the company.
- The team managed to retain control of the ball.
- 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.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- I want to retain my job.
- She retained her old books.
- We must retain this land.
- They try to retain their customers.
- He retained his seat on the bus.
Kitenzi
B2
action
2
Keep information in memory
To remember information for some time.
Muundo wa matumizi:
to retain [information/knowledge/facts]
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners may confuse 'retain' with 'memorize'; 'memorize' is about learning, while 'retain' is about keeping that knowledge over time.
Visawe
remember ('Remember' is more common and less formal; 'retain' suggests holding knowledge over time.)
Vinyume
forget (Opposite in meaning; to be unable to remember information.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
retain knowledge
|retain memory
|retain facts
|retain details
Mada
education
|psychology
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- It's difficult to retain so many dates for the history exam.
- Children can retain new words more easily than adults.
- She retains a lot of information from her college days.
- I can't retain all these technical terms.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- I can retain many English words.
- He retains what he reads.
- She cannot retain numbers well.
- We retain facts from school.
Kitenzi
formal
C1
action
3
Keep someone’s professional services
To pay someone, like a lawyer, so they will work for you when needed.
Muundo wa matumizi:
to retain [someone/professional]
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners may think 'retain' here means 'keep possession of'; in this context, it means to keep paying for someone's services.
Visawe
hire ('Hire' is more general; 'retain' is used especially for ongoing professional services.)
Vinyume
dismiss (Opposite in meaning; to end someone's employment or services.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
retain a lawyer
|retain an advisor
|retain a consultant
Mada
business
|law
Mifano
- The company decided to retain its legal counsel for another year.
- We retained a consultant to help with the project.
- She retained the same financial advisor for over a decade.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- I will retain a lawyer for my case.
- They retained an expert for advice.
- We retained a teacher for extra lessons.
Kitenzi
technical
B2
action
4
Hold liquid, heat, etc.
To hold liquid, heat, or another thing inside and not let it go.
Muundo wa matumizi:
to retain [heat/moisture/liquid]
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners might confuse 'retain' with 'absorb'; but something can absorb and not necessarily keep it for long.
Visawe
absorb ('Absorb' means take in; 'retain' means both take in and keep.)
Vinyume
release (Opposite in meaning; to let go of what is held inside.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
retain heat
|retain moisture
|retain water
Mada
science
|cooking
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- The walls are designed to retain heat in winter.
- This soil retains water well after rain.
- The towel retains moisture even after being wrung out.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- The pot retains heat for hours.
- This sponge retains water well.
- The soil retains moisture.
Sarufi
Umbo la kamusi
retain
IPA
GB/ɹɪtˈeɪn/
US/ɹɪtˈeɪn/
Silabi na mkazo
re - tain (silabi 2)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tain)
Maumbo ya neno
Verb
- Base: retain
- 3rd Person Singular: retains
- Present Participle: retaining
- Past: retained
Familia ya neno
Forms
retains
verb
retaining
verb
retained
verb
Core family
retention
noun B2
Related words
retainer
noun
retentive
adjective
Advanced or less common
retainable
adjective
Semi
retain control
1/ɹɪtˈeɪn kəntɹˈoʊl/
fixed phrase
Continue having authority or influence
To keep power over something or someone and not lose it.
Mifano
- 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.
Mifano
- 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.
Mifano
- Authors usually retain rights to their work under this contract.
- She retains rights over the songs she wrote.