RETAIN

[verb] [T] [slightly formal] - to keep or continue to have (something)She has lost her battle to retain control of the company.He managed to retain his dignity throughout the performance.She succeeded in retaining her lead in the second half of the race.He is hoping to retain his title for the 800m (= to win the race again) in the Commonwealth Games.The British Library retains the right to a copy of every new book published in the UK.I have a good memory and am able to retain (= remember) facts easily.The wall of this dam retains (= holds in place) 5 000 000 cubic metres of water. [T](slightly formal) If a substance retains something, such as heat or water, it continues to hold or contain it.The sea retains the sun's warmth longer than the land.(legal) To retain a lawyer is to obtain their services by paying them in advance.