retain
gb/ɹɪtˈeɪn/ us/ɹɪtˈeɪn/
B2
英语
~ 1600
义项
0 个义项
动词
B2
action
1
Continue to have something
To keep something and not give it away or lose it.
用法模式：
to retain [something]
常见错误：
Learners sometimes use 'retain' in casual contexts where 'keep' is more natural, making the sentence sound overly formal.
近义词
keep (More common and general in everyday speech; 'retain' is slightly more formal.)
反义词
lose (Opposite in meaning; to no longer have something.)
搭配
retain control
|retain ownership
|retain rights
|retain information
|retain possession
主题
daily life
|business
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
例句
- 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.
学习者例句
- 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.
动词
B2
action
2
Keep information in memory
To remember information for some time.
用法模式：
to retain [information/knowledge/facts]
常见错误：
Learners may confuse 'retain' with 'memorize'; 'memorize' is about learning, while 'retain' is about keeping that knowledge over time.
近义词
remember ('Remember' is more common and less formal; 'retain' suggests holding knowledge over time.)
反义词
forget (Opposite in meaning; to be unable to remember information.)
搭配
retain knowledge
|retain memory
|retain facts
|retain details
主题
education
|psychology
|core_vocabulary
例句
- 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.
学习者例句
- I can retain many English words.
- He retains what he reads.
- She cannot retain numbers well.
- We retain facts from school.
动词
formal
C1
action
3
Keep someone’s professional services
To pay someone, like a lawyer, so they will work for you when needed.
用法模式：
to retain [someone/professional]
常见错误：
Learners may think 'retain' here means 'keep possession of'; in this context, it means to keep paying for someone's services.
近义词
hire ('Hire' is more general; 'retain' is used especially for ongoing professional services.)
反义词
dismiss (Opposite in meaning; to end someone's employment or services.)
搭配
retain a lawyer
|retain an advisor
|retain a consultant
主题
business
|law
例句
- 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.
学习者例句
- I will retain a lawyer for my case.
- They retained an expert for advice.
- We retained a teacher for extra lessons.
动词
technical
B2
action
4
Hold liquid, heat, etc.
To hold liquid, heat, or another thing inside and not let it go.
用法模式：
to retain [heat/moisture/liquid]
常见错误：
Learners might confuse 'retain' with 'absorb'; but something can absorb and not necessarily keep it for long.
近义词
absorb ('Absorb' means take in; 'retain' means both take in and keep.)
反义词
release (Opposite in meaning; to let go of what is held inside.)
搭配
retain heat
|retain moisture
|retain water
主题
science
|cooking
|core_vocabulary
例句
- 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.
学习者例句
- The pot retains heat for hours.
- This sponge retains water well.
- The soil retains moisture.
语法
词典原形
retain
IPA
GB/ɹɪtˈeɪn/
US/ɹɪtˈeɪn/
音节与重音
re - tain （2 个音节）
Stress on 2nd syllable (tain)
词形变化
Verb
- Base: retain
- 3rd Person Singular: retains
- Present Participle: retaining
- Past: retained
词族
Forms
retains
verb
retaining
verb
retained
verb
Core family
retention
noun B2
Related words
retainer
noun
retentive
adjective
Advanced or less common
retainable
adjective
相关表达
retain control
1/ɹɪtˈeɪn kəntɹˈoʊl/
fixed phrase
Continue having authority or influence
To keep power over something or someone and not lose it.
例句
- 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.
例句
- 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.
例句
- Authors usually retain rights to their work under this contract.
- She retains rights over the songs she wrote.