Definitions and Examples of keep, hold, retain
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
To have or retain possession of something.
Example
I decided to keep the book instead of exchanging it for another one.
To have and maintain in one's grasp; to keep from falling or moving.
Example
He held onto the railing tightly to avoid slipping on the wet stairs.
To keep or continue to have something; to hold onto something.
Example
The company decided to retain its employees despite the economic downturn.
Key Differences: keep vs hold vs retain
- 1Keep refers to having or retaining possession of something.
- 2Hold refers to maintaining something in one's grasp or keeping it from falling or moving.
- 3Retain refers to continuing to have or hold onto something.
Effective Usage of keep, hold, retain
- 1Business: Use retain to refer to keeping employees or customers.
- 2Personal: Use keep or hold to refer to keeping possessions or maintaining physical contact with something.
- 3Academic: Use these antonyms to explain the difference between exchanging and keeping or holding onto something.
Remember this!
The antonyms of exchange are keep, hold, and retain. These words convey the opposite meaning of exchanging or giving something away. Use keep to refer to having or retaining possession of something, hold to refer to maintaining something in one's grasp or keeping it from falling or moving, and retain to refer to continuing to have or hold onto something.