retains its form

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "retains its form" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing something that maintains its shape, structure, or characteristics over time. An example could be: "The sculpture retains its form despite the weathering effects." Alternative expressions include "maintains its shape" and "keeps its structure."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"If you dump it out on the table and it retains its form," he said, "it's not a liquid, aerosol or gel".

The New York Times

A mealy tuber is one which, while it retains its form on cooking, may readily be broken down to give a dry crumbly mash through separation of individual cells [ 30].

BMC Genomics

Andrey again finds the tree expresses his own state: "No, life isn't over... My life must be lived... .. Despite its lovely and rich leafing, the tree retains its form of trunk and branches; it has not changed beyond recognition, it is not a new tree.

Huffington Post

What once looked "original" retains its form as its surroundings change shape, cycling through retro, back to novel and returning again to "new".

The Guardian - Arts

The HP paper retains its form, and resists the adverse effects of water.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

It appears that bone under remodelling can retain its form better if the remodelling is slowed down by for example a bisphosphonate [ 4- 6].

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

It has been proposed that these fibrous structures are caused by the dehydration process in conventional sample preparation methods, so it appears that the biofilm structure observed after IL treatment has retained its form better than when the conventional method is used.

AMB Express

The castle probably retained its form as established by 1100 until the reign of Richard the Lionheart (1189 1199).

Wikipedia

She stands as the absolute basis for all life, energy and beneath her feet lies, Shiva, a metaphor for mass, which cannot retain its form without energy.

Wikipedia

The Doctor visits the pond and deduces that the Great Intelligence is using the old governess' body as a DNA blueprint to form an ice creature that will retain its form and not melt.

Wikipedia

The threshold Kkthresh of is (20) where A is retained its form as in (19) whereas B involves only the degradation rates of downstream species of the repressive targeted species X k.

BMC Systems Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In scientific writing, this phrase is particularly effective for describing phase changes or chemical stability, such as a substance that remains solid when heated.

Common error

Ensure you use the possessive "its" without an apostrophe. Writing "retains it's form" is a common mistake that changes the meaning to "retains it is form", which is grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "retains its form" functions as a transitive verb phrase where "retains" acts as the verb, "its" is the possessive determiner, and "form" is the direct object. According to Ludwig AI, it is used to denote the continuous possession of a specific physical state or configuration.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Arts & Design

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "retains its form" is a highly reliable and sophisticated phrase for describing the preservation of shape and structure. Ludwig AI data shows it is most prevalent in scientific discourse, where precision regarding material properties is paramount. Whether you are writing about a biological specimen that ""retains its form"" during cooking or an ancient building that "retained its form" through centuries, this expression conveys durability and consistency. It is a safer, more formal alternative to "keeps its shape" and should be used whenever structural integrity is the focus of your sentence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

maintains its shape

Uses a more common noun for physical appearance

keeps its structure

Emphasizes the internal arrangement or framework

holds its form

Implies an active resistance to changing shape

stays intact

Focuses on the condition of being whole and undamaged

retains its integrity

Often used for structural soundness or abstract consistency

preserves its configuration

A more technical or formal way to describe arrangement

remains unchanged

A broader description of stability

guards its outline

Focuses specifically on the exterior boundary

upholds its format

Better suited for digital or organizational structures

conserves its appearance

Focuses on the visual aspect over time

FAQs

How to use "retains its form" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe physical stability, such as: "The ceramic material "retains its form" even at extremely high temperatures."

What can I say instead of "retains its form"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "maintains its shape", "holds its form", or "keeps its structure".

Which is correct: "retains its form" or "retains its shape"?

Both are correct. "retains its form" is slightly more formal and is often used in scientific or artistic contexts, while "retains its shape" is more common in everyday speech.

Is "retains its form" formal enough for a research paper?

Yes, it is highly appropriate for academic writing. For even more technical precision, you might consider "preserves its morphology" or "maintains structural integrity".