retain
Often followed by from: to hold backOften followed by from: to hold back (someone or something); to check, to prevent, to restrain, to stop.
» We had to retain a lawyer.
Нам пришлось нанять адвоката.
Meaning
20 senses(transitive)Often followed by from: to hold back (someone or something); to check, to prevent, to restrain, to stop.
hold back within
Often followed by from: to hold back (someone or something); to check, to prevent, to restrain, to stop.
(transitive)To hold back (a pupil) instead of allowing them to advance to the next class or year; to keep back.
sitzen bleiben
(transitive)Of a thing: to hold or keep (something) inside it; to contain.
water retained by a dam
keep in one's mind
Of a thing: to hold or keep (something) inside it; to contain.
(transitive)To hold back (tissue or a substance, especially urine) in the body or a body organ.
(transitive)To hold (something) secure; to prevent (something) from becoming detached or separated.
festhalten
(transitive)To keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something); to keep back.
To keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something); to keep back.
(transitive)To keep (something) in the mind; to recall, to remember.
(transitive)To keep (something) in place or use, instead of removing or abolishing it; to preserve.
secure and keep for possible future use or application
(transitive)To engage or hire (someone), especially temporarily.
To engage or hire (someone), especially temporarily.
(transitive)To employ (someone, especially a lawyer) by paying a retainer (“fee one pays to reserve another person's time for services”); specifically, to engage (a barrister) by making an initial payment to secure their services if needed.
нанима́тьnanimátʹ
(transitive)To keep (someone) in one's pay or service; also, (chiefly historical) to maintain (someone) as a dependent or follower.
(reflexive, transitive)To control or restrain (oneself); to exercise self-control over (oneself).
Examples
52 sentencesWe had to retain a lawyer.
ruНам пришлось нанять адвоката.
These dishes don't retain heat very well.
The nation retained suzerainty over the territory.
Whoever wants to retain everything lets everything escape.
Wrap the pots in polythene to retain moisture.
deDie Töpfe zum Feuchthalten in Frischhaltefolie einwickeln.
Translations
7 languagesBy meaning 2
By meaning 3
Origin
From Late Middle English reteinen, retein (“to continue to keep, retain; to continue to poFrom Late Middle English reteinen, retein (“to continue to keep, retain; to continue to possess; to possess; to contain; to draw back, retire; to hold back, restrain; to keep in mind, remember; to take back, repossess; to appoint; to engage in one’s service, employ, hire”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman reteiner, retenir [and other forms], Middle French retenir, and Old French retenir (“to keep back, retain; to keep, maintain, preserve; to possess; to engage in one’s service, employ; to detain; to hold back, restrain; to remember”) (modern French retenir), from Vulgar Latin *retinīre, from Latin retinēre, the present active infinitive of retineō (“to keep or hold back, detain, retain; to hold in check, stop; to hold fast, maintain; to keep in mind, remember”) (compare Late Latin retineō (“to keep engaged in one’s service”)), from re- (prefix meaning ‘again’) + teneō (“to grasp, hold; to hold fast, restrain; to possess; to keep in mind, remember”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ten- (“to extend, stretch”)).
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Forms
retains, retaining, retained, retainedSynonyms
6 synonymsAntonyms
1 antonymsWord family
25 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle