Retain example sentences
Related (15): keep, hold, maintain, preserve, sustain, withhold, release, relinquish, retention, retained, retainer, detain, contain, obtain, secure
"Retain" Example Sentences
Common Phrases
- retain control
- retain the right
- retain information
- retain employees
- retain one's composure
- retain a lawyer
- retain independence
- retain a position
- retain water
- retain color
- retain support
- retain options
- retain custody
- retain title
Examples by Level
A1
- I retain my old toys in a box under my bed.
- The plant will retain water if you water it today.
- My grandmother retain her wedding ring for fifty years.
A2
- She decided to retain her maiden name after getting married.
- The sponge can retain a lot of water before it drips.
- He wanted to retain his job, so he worked very hard that month.
B1
- Most people retain memories of their first day of school, even decades later.
- The company chose to retain its experienced staff rather than hire new people.
- It's harder to retain information when you're stressed — your brain just doesn't stick with it.
B2
- She'd managed to retain her sense of humor through the whole ordeal, which honestly impressed everyone.
- The soil in that region doesn't retain moisture well, which is why farming there has always been difficult.
- He was determined to retain control of the narrative, even as the story spiraled beyond his influence.
C1
- The institution's ability to retain its cultural relevance depends less on innovation than on its willingness to retain what actually matters.
- What we choose to retain from our past often says more about our present anxieties than about historical truth.
- The paradox of memory is that we retain the most vivid details of moments we'd rather forget, while genuinely important events fade to abstraction.
C2
- There's something almost defiant in the way certain communities retain their traditions — not out of nostalgia, but as an act of resistance.
- The artist's later work suggests she'd begun to retain only the essential elements, stripping away everything that didn't serve the core vision.
- He'd learned, painfully, that you cannot retain what was never truly yours to begin with — and that this knowledge, once acquired, cannot be unlearned.
Examples by Scenario
🏠 Everyday Life
- My kitchen sponge doesn't retain water anymore, so I need to buy a new one.
- The dog's bed is in the corner where it can retain the warmth from the afternoon sun.
- I keep meaning to organize my closet, but I retain so many clothes I never actually wear.
💼 Workplace
- The company decided to retain me even after the restructuring, which was a relief.
- Our manager said the new system would help us retain important client information more easily.
- We're trying to retain our best people before they get poached by competitors.
📊 Business
- The strategy to retain customers through loyalty programs has increased our repeat purchase rate by thirty percent.
- We need to retain our market position, so we're investing heavily in product development this quarter.
- The consulting firm's ability to retain major clients depends on delivering measurable results within the first year.
🛒 Buying / Shopping
- This fabric is supposed to retain its color even after washing — let's see if that's actually true.
- I'm looking for a water bottle that can retain ice for at least eight hours.
- The salesman claimed the coating would help the pan retain heat better, but I'm skeptical.
✈️ Travel
- The hotel said the room would retain the booking even if I arrived late, which was good to know.
- We chose a luggage set that can retain its shape even when packed tightly.
- Traveling through Southeast Asia taught me to retain flexibility in my plans — nothing ever goes exactly as scheduled.
📚 Education
- Students retain information better when they actively engage with the material rather than just reading it passively.
- The teacher asked us to retain our notes from the first semester because we'd need them for the final exam.
- My son struggles to retain spelling rules, so we've been practicing with flashcards every evening.
❤️ Relationships
- After everything that happened, I'm amazed she can still retain any trust in me at all.
- We decided to retain our separate apartments even though we've been together for three years.
- He said he wanted to retain his independence, which I understood — but it hurt anyway.
📰 News / Politics
- The government announced plans to retain the controversial policy despite widespread public opposition.
- Environmental groups are pushing for regulations that would retain stricter emissions standards.
- The candidate's ability to retain support among rural voters will likely determine the election outcome.
💻 Technology
- This app is designed to retain your browsing history so you can pick up where you left off.
- The new phone battery can retain a charge for three days with moderate use.
- Cloud storage lets you retain unlimited photos without taking up space on your device.
📝 Formal Writing
- The organization's charter stipulates that it must retain its nonprofit status in perpetuity.
- Research indicates that individuals who retain strong social connections experience better long-term health outcomes.
- The agreement allows either party to retain legal counsel at their own expense during the dispute resolution process.