Definitions and Examples of retain, keep, hold on to
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
To keep possession of something; to continue to have something.
Example
He decided to retain his old car instead of buying a new one.
To have or hold onto something; to not give away or get rid of something.
Example
She likes to keep her room clean and tidy.
Key Differences: retain vs keep vs hold on to
- 1Retain implies keeping possession of something, often for a specific purpose or reason.
- 2Keep suggests holding onto something, often for an extended period of time.
- 3Hold on to implies not letting go of something, often due to sentimental or emotional reasons.
Effective Usage of retain, keep, hold on to
- 1Business Communication: Use retain to describe keeping important documents or information.
- 2Daily Conversation: Use keep to describe holding onto something for an extended period of time.
- 3Emotional Expression: Use hold on to to describe not letting go of something due to sentimental or emotional reasons.
Remember this!
The antonyms of sloughed are retain, keep, and hold on to. These antonyms convey the opposite meaning of getting rid of something or shedding it off. Use these words to describe keeping possession of something, holding onto something for an extended period of time, or not letting go of something due to sentimental or emotional reasons.