retain

Pronunciation: rih-TAYN

verb

Definition of retain

To continue to have or hold; keep possession of

Synonyms for retain

retain in a Sentence

  1. The company struggled to retain talented employees due to low salaries.

Why retain Matters for GRE & SAT

"retain" is a verb that means "To continue to have or hold; keep possession of" closely related to words like "keep", "maintain", "preserve". As a word starting with R, it belongs to a cluster of GRE and SAT vocabulary that test-takers often encounter in Verbal Reasoning, Text Completion, and Reading Comprehension sections.

On the GRE, understanding "retain" helps you distinguish between closely related answer choices in Sentence Equivalence questions. On the SAT, recognizing this word in context strengthens your performance on Craft & Structure and Words in Context questions. Seeing how "retain" is used in sentences — like the examples above — builds the contextual understanding that standardized tests reward.

Study tip: Start with the definition and part of speech (verb). Then learn its 3 synonyms to build a word network. Finally, practice with spaced repetition to move "retain" into long-term memory.

How to Remember retain

One effective way to remember "retain" (verb) is to group it with similar words you already know: "keep" and "maintain" and "preserve". When you encounter "retain" on a test, these synonym connections help you quickly recall its meaning — "To continue to have or hold; keep possession of".

Use flashcard apps with spaced repetition to review "retain" at increasing intervals until it becomes automatic.

  • Recalcitrant — Having an obstinately uncooperative attitude; stubbornly resistant to authority.
  • radical — far-reaching; major
  • ramification — a consequence or resulting action of a previous event
  • rampant — unrestrained or unchecked, usually in a negative manner

More Vocabulary Words Starting with R

  • Recalcitrant — Having an obstinately uncooperative attitude; stubbornly resistant to authority.
  • radical — far-reaching; major
  • radical — Relating to or affecting the fundamental nature of something
  • radical — Relating to or affecting the fundamental nature of something
  • radical — far-reaching; major
  • ramification — a consequence or resulting action of a previous event
  • ramification — A consequence of an action or event, especially a complex one
  • ramification — a consequence or resulting action of a previous event
  • rampant — unrestrained or unchecked, usually in a negative manner
  • rampant — Spreading unchecked; flourishing in an unwelcome way