Thesaurus

retain

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of RETAIN

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>
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>
Antonyms lack, want
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>
Synonyms assume, engage, fee [chiefly Scottish], hire, lay on [chiefly British], pay, place, recruit, retain, sign (up or on), take on
Near Antonyms furlough, lay off, lock out
Antonyms ax (or axe), can, discharge, dismiss, fire, sack

Browse

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.
Test your vocab with our fun, fast game
Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears