reter

Senses

1. 1.

   to retain, to hold back

   to keep something or someone from leaving or being released

2. 2.

   to withhold

   to hold back payment, information, or something owed

3. 3.

   to remember, to retain

   to keep information in one's memory

4. 4.

   to detain, to hold

   to keep someone in custody or prevent them from proceeding

Examples

• "A empresa vai reter 11% do seu salário para o INSS."

  The company will withhold 11% of your salary for social security.

• "Não consigo reter todas essas informações de uma vez."

  I can't retain all this information at once.

• "A polícia reteve o suspeito para interrogatório."

  The police detained the suspect for questioning.

Usage

Reter is an irregular verb conjugated like ter (eu retenho, ele retém). Commonly used in financial contexts (reter impostos = to withhold taxes) and formal/legal language. The reflexive form "reter-se" means to restrain oneself or hold back.