Definitions and Examples of retain, maintain, preserve
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
To keep or continue to have something.
Example
The company decided to retain its current employees despite the economic downturn.
To keep something in good condition or preserve it.
Example
It's important to maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating well and exercising regularly.
To protect something from harm or decay; to maintain its original state.
Example
The museum's mission is to preserve and showcase the cultural heritage of the region.
Key Differences: retain vs maintain vs preserve
- 1Retain implies keeping something that is already in possession, while supplant suggests replacing something else with a new thing.
- 2Maintain refers to keeping something in good condition, while supplant means to replace it entirely.
- 3Preserve conveys the idea of protecting something from harm or decay, while supplant suggests replacing it with something new.
Effective Usage of retain, maintain, preserve
- 1Business: Use retain to describe keeping existing employees or customers, while supplant can be used to describe replacing them with new ones.
- 2Maintenance: Use maintain to describe keeping something in good condition, such as a car or a garden.
- 3Conservation: Use preserve to describe protecting natural resources or cultural heritage sites from harm or decay.
Remember this!
The antonyms of supplant are retain, maintain, and preserve. These words convey the opposite meaning of supplant, which is to replace or displace something or someone. Use retain to describe keeping something that is already in possession, maintain to describe keeping something in good condition, and preserve to describe protecting something from harm or decay.
