# retain vs return

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### 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.

### return
*verb · IPA /ɹɪˈtɜːn/ · frequency rank #663*
To come or go back (to a place or person).

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