# remain vs retain

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### remain
*noun · IPA /ɹɪˈmeɪn/ · frequency rank #1,574*
That which is left; relic; remainder.

### retain
*verb · IPA /ɹɪˈteɪn/ · frequency rank #5,541*
Often followed by from: to hold back (someone or something); to check, to prevent, to restrain, to stop.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/remain-vs-retain