retain him

USAGE SUMMARY

"retain him" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the idea of keeping someone or something. For example: She retained an attorney to help her with her case.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Rangers ultimately decided to retain him.

The New York Times - Sports

"You have to retain him.

The New York Times

By then, the Yankees had no chance to retain him.

The New York Times - Sports

"Every effort on earth will be made to retain him".

The New York Times - Sports

"I don't know what he puts forth to voters that would make them retain him".

The New York Times

He added, "But we thinking about helping the kid out and retain him as a client".

The New York Times - Sports

He took a successful general and made it impossible for President Obama to retain him.

The New York Times

Most families that retain him to set up these entities want something far more permanent.

The New York Times

Chief Justice Kilbride is an able jurist, and Illinois voters should retain him.

The New York Times

City are thought to be eager to retain him in their global empire.

Independent

But when Mr. Ginsburg called, Ms. Lewinsky agreed to retain him.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "retain him" when you want to convey the idea of keeping someone in a specific role, position, or employment. It implies a deliberate decision to maintain the status quo.

Common error

Don't confuse "retain him", which means to keep someone, with "detain him", which means to hold someone in custody. The contexts are very different.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "retain him" functions primarily as a verb phrase where the verb "retain" takes the pronoun "him" as its direct object. As Ludwig examples show, this phrase typically appears in contexts relating to employment, sports, or legal matters, expressing the act of keeping someone in a particular role or position.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Sports

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "retain him" is a commonly used and grammatically correct expression that signifies the act of keeping someone in a role or position. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely employed across various contexts, particularly in news, sports, and business, denoting a deliberate decision to maintain the status quo. While alternatives like "keep him" exist, "retain him" offers a slightly more formal tone. When using this phrase, remember that it implies a conscious choice to maintain someone's current standing, rather than bringing someone new into a role. It's important to avoid confusion with "detain him", which has a completely different meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keep him

A simpler, more direct alternative to "retain him", suitable for informal contexts.

hold onto him

Implies a desire to prevent someone from leaving, adding a sense of urgency.

maintain his position

Focuses on the continuation of someone's role or status.

keep him employed

Specifically addresses the continuation of someone's employment.

preserve his role

Emphasizes the importance of maintaining someone's function or duty.

secure his services

Highlights the effort to ensure someone's continued availability for work or assistance.

not let him go

Expresses a strong desire to keep someone, often in an emotional context.

ensure his continuity

Focuses on the uninterrupted continuation of someone's involvement or contribution.

sustain his presence

Highlights keeping someone actively involved or visible.

refrain from dismissing him

A formal way of stating the decision not to fire or remove someone from their position.

FAQs

How can I use "retain him" in a sentence?

You can use "retain him" in sentences like "The company decided to retain him as a consultant" or "The team made every effort to retain him for another season".

What are some alternatives to saying "retain him"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "keep him", "hold onto him", or "maintain his position".

When is it appropriate to use "retain him" instead of "hire him"?

"Retain him" is used when someone is already in a position, and the decision is to keep them. "Hire him" is used when bringing someone new into a role.

What's the difference between "retain him" and "re-elect him"?

"Retain him" suggests keeping someone in a current role, typically in a business or sports context. "Re-elect him" refers specifically to voting someone back into a political office.