Retained — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun adjective /ri-ˈtān/ re·tain

Meaning & Definition of Retained

Retained (verb)

  1. to keep in possession or use
  2. to keep in one's pay or service; specifically, to employ by paying a retainer
  3. to keep in mind or memory, remember

Retained (noun)

  1. an object of a verb in the predicate of a passive construction (such as me in "a book was given me" and book in "I was given a book")

Retained (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in owned, possessed

    similar: owned, possessed, cherished, loved, prized, protected, treasured, valued
    opposite: gone, lost, mislaid, misplaced, missing, absent, castaway, irrecoverable, irretrievable

Retained (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to continue to have in one's possession or power

    "I plan to retain the family heirlooms until my own children are mature enough to appreciate them, and then I will lovingly pass them on"

    similar: held, kept, reserved, withheld, held on to, hung on to
    related: conserved, guarded, preserved, protected, saved, boasted, enjoyed, had, owned, possessed, commanded, controlled, detained, directed, managed, ruled, bore, harbored, cherished, clung (to), hugged, treasured
    opposite: gave up, handed over, released, relinquished, surrendered, yielded
    near: abandoned, ceded, dropped, contributed, donated, gave, handed out, discarded, dumped, declined, rejected, repudiated, spurned, lost

  2. to keep, control, or experience as one's own

    "that author retains the right to veto any changes in his books suggested by his publisher's notoriously intrusive editor"

    similar: commanded, enjoyed, had, held, owned, possessed, rejoiced in
    related: kept, reserved, withheld, bore, carried, boasted, showed off, sported
    opposite: lacked, wanted
    near: abandoned, ceded, disclaimed, disowned, handed over, relinquished, renounced, surrendered, yielded, discarded, dumped, declined, rejected, repudiated, spurned, needed, required

  3. to provide with a paying job

    "her neighbor retained her as a nanny for the summer, thus giving her something to do until school started again"

    similar: assumed, employed, engaged, feed (chiefly Scottish), hired, laid on (chiefly British), paid, placed, recruited, signed (up or on), took on
    related: reemployed, reengaged, rehired, apprenticed, contracted, jobbed, partnered, subcontracted, enlisted, advanced, promoted, upgraded, kept (on), headhunted, scouted
    opposite: axed, canned, discharged, dismissed, fired, sacked
    near: furloughed, laid off, locked out

Related Entry: Retain (verb)

Retain is a different word from Retained. The synonyms below are for retain, not for retained.

  1. to continue to have in one's possession or power

    "I plan to retain the family heirlooms until my own children are mature enough to appreciate them, and then I will lovingly pass them on"

    similar: hold, keep, reserve, withhold, hang on to, hold on to
    related: conserve, guard, preserve, protect, save, boast, enjoy, have, own, possess, command, control, detain, direct, manage, rule, bear, harbor, cherish, cling (to), hug, treasure
    opposite: give up, hand over, release, relinquish, surrender, yield
    near: abandon, cede, drop, contribute, donate, give, hand out, discard, dump, decline, reject, repudiate, spurn, lose

  2. to keep, control, or experience as one's own

    "that author retains the right to veto any changes in his books suggested by his publisher's notoriously intrusive editor"

    similar: command, enjoy, have, hold, own, possess, rejoice in
    related: keep, reserve, withhold, bear, carry, boast, show off, sport
    opposite: lack, want
    near: abandon, cede, disclaim, disown, hand over, relinquish, renounce, surrender, yield, discard, dump, decline, reject, repudiate, spurn, need, require

  3. to provide with a paying job

    "her neighbor retained her as a nanny for the summer, thus giving her something to do until school started again"

    similar: assume, employ, engage, fee (chiefly Scottish), hire, lay on (chiefly British), pay, place, recruit, sign (up or on), take on
    related: reemploy, reengage, rehire, apprentice, contract, job, partner, subcontract, enlist, advance, promote, upgrade, keep (on), headhunt, scout
    opposite: ax, can, discharge, dismiss, fire, sack
    near: furlough, lay off, lock out

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Retained

The most common words with a similar meaning to Retained:

Chiefly Scottish: feed
Chiefly British: laid on
owned, possessed, cherished, loved, prized, protected, treasured, valued, held, kept, reserved, withheld, commanded, enjoyed, had, assumed, employed, engaged, hired, paid, placed, recruited, signed (up or on), took on, held on to, hung on to, rejoiced in

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Retained

Words with the opposite meaning of Retained:

gone, lost, mislaid, misplaced, missing, absent, castaway, irrecoverable, irretrievable, gave up, handed over, released, relinquished, surrendered, yielded, lacked, wanted, axed, canned, discharged, dismissed, fired, sacked

Related Words for Retained

conserved, guarded, preserved, saved, boasted, controlled, detained, directed, managed, ruled, bore, harbored, clung (to), hugged, carried, showed off, sported, reemployed, reengaged, rehired, apprenticed, contracted, jobbed, partnered, subcontracted, enlisted, advanced, promoted, upgraded, kept (on)

Near Antonyms of Retained

abandoned, ceded, dropped, contributed, donated, gave, handed out, discarded, dumped, declined, rejected, repudiated, spurned, disclaimed, disowned, renounced, needed, required, furloughed, laid off, locked out

Word Forms of Retained

Inflections: retaining, retains

Origin & Etymology of Retained

Middle English reteinen, retainen, from Anglo-French retenir, reteigner, from Latin retinēre to hold back, restrain, from re- + tenēre to hold thin

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Retained

Words & Phrases Containing Retained

retained object

Frequently Asked Questions about Retained

What does "Retained" mean?

"Retained" means to keep in possession or use. As an a verb, a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: to keep in possession or use. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Retained"?

Other words for "Retained" include owned, possessed, cherished, loved, prized, protected, treasured and valued. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Retained" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Retained"?

There are 61 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Retained". Common alternatives include owned, possessed, cherished, loved, prized, protected, treasured, valued, held and kept.

What is the opposite of "Retained"?

Antonyms of "Retained" include gone, lost, mislaid, misplaced, missing, absent, castaway and irrecoverable. Near antonyms include abandoned, ceded, dropped and contributed.

How do you use "Retained" in a sentence?

Examples of "Retained" in a sentence: "I plan to retain the family heirlooms until my own children are mature enough to appreciate them, and then I will lovingly pass them on"; "that author retains the right to veto any changes in his books suggested by his publisher's notoriously intrusive editor"; "her neighbor retained her as a nanny for the summer, thus giving her something to do until school started again".

Is "Retained" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Retained" can be used as a verb, a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Retained" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Retained"?

"Retained" is pronounced /ri-ˈtān/ and divided into syllables as re·tain.