Retention Meaning
/ɹɪˈtɛnʃən/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe act of retaining or something retained.
nounThe act or power of remembering things.
Sentence Examples
Uncertainty regarding the company's financial situation will interfere with employee retention.
Chunking helps improve memory retention.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The new teaching method improved students' ____ of complex scientific facts.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The company's ____ of skilled staff had improved significantly since the introduction of flexible working.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English retencioun, borrowed from Latin retentiō, retentiōnis, from retentus, the perfect passive participle of retineō (“retain”) (from re- (“back, again”) + teneō (“hold, keep”)).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"No woman's heart / So big, to hold so much; they lack retention."
— c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv], page 95:
""Still," Suit echoed. "The way she handles the gun jamming." Suit shook their head in admiration. "Tap, rack, bang, without hesitation. That's extraordinary retention.""
— 2015 March 25, thedeadlymoose, “The Seed of an Idea”, in SCP Foundation, archived from the original on 01 Dec 2024:
"Thy gift, thy tables, are within my brain
Full character’d with lasting memory,
[…]
That poor retention could not so much hold,
Nor need I tallies thy dear love to score;"
— 1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 122”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC:
"His life I gave him, and did thereto add / My love without retention or restraint,"
— c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i], page 79:
"The right of retention, which bears a near resemblance to compensation, is chiefly competent where the mutual debts, not being liquid, cannot be the ground of compensation"
— 1754, John Erskine of Carnock, (Please provide the book title or journal name):
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The new teaching method improved students' ____ of complex scientific facts.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The company's ____ of skilled staff had improved significantly since the introduction of flexible working.