# repair vs retain

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### repair
*verb · IPA /ɹɪˈpɛə/ · frequency rank #3,582*
To restore to good working order, fix, or improve damaged condition; to mend; to remedy.

### 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/repair-vs-retain