retention
/rɪˈtenʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /rɪˈtenʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ri-ˈten(t)-shən/ (ame, mw)
retention — noun
1. the act of continuing to have, use, or keep something or someone, rather than gi
the act of continuing to have, use, or keep something or someone, rather than giving it up or letting it go
The company's customer retention rate improved after they introduced a loyalty programme.
collocation: customer retention rate
Many governments have strict policies on data retention for national security reasons.
collocation: data retention
Employee retention is a major challenge for farms that rely on seasonal workers.
The museum's retention of rare manuscripts depends on proper climate control.
Heloísa's job involves managing client retention for a large insurance company.
- keeping
less formal, broader scope
- maintenance
emphasizes the effort to keep something in good condition
- preservation
focuses on protecting from loss or decay
- continuation
stresses the ongoing nature rather than possession
- loss
the opposite outcome when retention fails
- abandonment
deliberately giving something up
文法句型
retention of [something]
[adjective] retention
[noun] retention rate
用法筆記
Commonly used in business contexts with a preceding noun such as customer, employee, or data. The compound form (e.g. customer retention) is far more frequent than the prepositional pattern (retention of customers).
常見錯誤
2. the process of keeping a liquid, heat, or bodily substance inside the body or an
the process of keeping a liquid, heat, or bodily substance inside the body or an object, rather than allowing it to leave
The doctor told Nellie that her ankle swelling was caused by water retention.
collocation: water retention
This thick ceramic mug is popular for its excellent heat retention.
collocation: heat retention
Patients with kidney problems often experience fluid retention in their legs.
The building's insulation improves heat retention and lowers energy bills during winter.
Emre's doctor told him to eat less salt in order to reduce water retention.
- holding
less technical, broader
- containment
emphasizes preventing escape
- trapping
informal, used for heat or moisture
文法句型
retention of [liquid/heat]
[substance] retention
water / heat / fluid retention
用法筆記
When used as a medical term, it typically refers to an abnormal or excessive buildup of fluid in the body. In materials or engineering contexts, it describes the ability of a substance to keep heat or moisture inside.
常見錯誤
3. the ability to store information, knowledge, or experiences in your mind and bri
the ability to store information, knowledge, or experiences in your mind and bring them back when needed
Nikhil uses flashcards to improve his retention of new vocabulary words.
pattern: retention of [vocabulary]
Good sleep is essential for information retention after a long day of studying.
collocation: information retention
Older adults sometimes worry about declining memory retention as they grow older.
The teacher used songs and games to boost her students' retention of grammar rules.
Certain foods are believed to support memory retention and mental sharpness in the elderly.
- memory
broader; can refer to the stored content itself, not just the ability
- recall
focuses on the act of bringing back information
- remembrance
more literary, often tied to personal or emotional memories
- forgetfulness
the tendency to lose stored information
- amnesia
a medical condition involving loss of memory
文法句型
retention of [information]
memory retention
information retention
用法筆記
Typically uncountable and often paired with a preceding noun that specifies what is remembered (e.g. information retention, memory retention). Unlike recall, retention emphasises the storage phase rather than the act of retrieving.