What is the antonym of “mete”?
The antonyms of mete are withhold, keep, and retain. These words convey the opposite meaning of mete, which is to distribute or allot something in portions.
Brief Definitions of the Antonym(s)
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
withhold
To refuse to give or grant something; to hold back or keep something back.
Example
The company decided to withhold bonuses until the end of the year.
keep
To have or retain possession of something; to not give away or distribute something.
Example
He decided to keep the money for himself instead of sharing it with his friends.
retain
To keep or continue to have something; to not lose or give up something.
Example
The company decided to retain its employees despite the economic downturn.
How are these antonyms different from each other?
- 1Withhold implies a deliberate act of not giving or granting something.
- 2Keep implies having possession of something and not giving it away.
- 3Retain implies continuing to have something and not losing it.
Good things to know
- 1Business: Use withhold to describe actions such as withholding bonuses, payments, or information.
- 2Possession: Use keep to describe having or retaining possession of something.
- 3Continuation: Use retain to describe continuing to have or not losing something.
Remember this!
The antonyms of mete are withhold, keep, and retain. These words convey different meanings related to not distributing or allotting something. Use these words in business contexts to describe actions such as withholding bonuses or payments, or in everyday situations to describe possession or continuation of something.
