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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Retain: Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：keep possession of (retain)

retain 🔊

/rɪˈteɪn/

vt.

To continue to have or keep something; to not lose it.

Retain meaning illustrated by a hand firmly gripping an umbrella in the rain.

keep possession of 🔊

➕

/kiːp pəˈzeʃən ɒv/

vt.

To actively continue to own or have something, preventing its loss or removal.

📁 Category：Objects & Materials 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'retinere' (re- 'back' + tenere 'to hold'). Meaning 'to hold back, keep'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of RE-TAIN: you RE-tain something to keep it from slipping away like a TAIN (a made-up leash) on a leash.

📖 Example

Even after buying a new phone, she chose to retain all her old photos. 🔊 Even after buying a new phone, she chose to keep possession of all her old photos.

🔗 Collocations

retain moisture – To keep water or dampness within something, like soil or skin.

retain control – To maintain authority, power, or command over a situation.

retain the original character – To keep the unique and initial qualities of something during changes.

🔄 Synonyms

keep (vt.) – A very common and general word for continuing to have something.

maintain (vt.) – To keep something in an existing state, often through care or effort.

preserve (vt.) – To keep something safe, especially from decay or damage, often for a long time.

🚫 Antonyms

release (vt.) – To set free; to allow something to go or be let go.

lose (vt.) – To cease to have or possess something, usually unintentionally.

relinquish (vt.) – To voluntarily give up or let go of something.

🌱 Derivatives

retention (n.) – The act of retaining or the state of being retained.

retentive (adj.) – Having the ability to retain or remember things.

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'retain' entered English via Old French from Latin 'retinere'. It is prominent in legal and formal English, such as 'to retain a lawyer' or a company 'retaining its competitive edge'. It emphasizes the active effort of keeping.

Meaning 2：hold in memory (retain)

retain 🔊

/rɪˈteɪn/

vt.

To keep something in your mind, or to keep a particular quality, feature, etc.

Retain information concept showing a student remembering ideas from a blackboard.

hold in memory 🔊

➕

/həʊld ɪn ˈmeməri/

vt.

To succeed in keeping information or knowledge in your mind; to remember.

📁 Category：School Education 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

To pass the exam, you need to retain a lot of important dates in your memory. 🔊 To pass the exam, you need to hold in memory a lot of important dates.

🔗 Collocations

retain information – To successfully keep and recall facts or knowledge learned.

retain facts – To keep specific pieces of information in your memory.

retain knowledge – To maintain understanding or awareness of a subject over time.

🔄 Synonyms

memorize (vt.) – To learn something so that you can remember it exactly.

remember (vt.) – To bring back into your mind information from the past.

absorb (vt.) – To take in and understand information fully.

🚫 Antonyms

forget (v.) – To fail to remember someone or something.

🌱 Derivatives

retentive (adj.) – Having the ability to retain or remember things.