fetch
fehch
Fetch (verb) means to go and get something, then bring it back. Example: “Can you fetch my glasses from the kitchen?”
verb
1
To go and get something, then bring it back.
"Can you fetch my glasses from the kitchen?"
"The dog loves to fetch the ball."
"Please fetch a towel from the bathroom before the bath gets cold."
2
To sell for, or bring in, a certain price.
"The painting fetched over two million dollars at auction."
"Old comic books can fetch a surprising sum if they are in good condition."
"I hope our old car will fetch enough money to pay for a new one."
noun
1
The act of retrieving something, or a program's act of pulling data.
"The app does a quick fetch of your account balance on login."
"The script makes a fetch of new messages every five seconds."
"A failed fetch left the page blank until we refreshed it."
How to use fetch
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo go get something and bring it back.
Memory tip
In computing, "fetch" is the standard word for a program pulling data from somewhere else, like an API.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
fetch data
fetch a high price
go fetch
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Word forms
- Plural
- fetches
- Third person singular
- fetches
- Past tense
- fetched
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Can you _____ my glasses from the kitchen?
Etymology
From Old English feċċan/fetian, meaning to bring near or get, tracing back to a Germanic root shared with Dutch vatten and German fassen ("to grasp").
Related words
Rhymes for fetch
See all rhymes for fetch →Frequently asked questions
What does “fetch” mean?
The word “fetch” means to go and get something, then bring it back. In plain terms, to go get something and bring it back.
How do you pronounce “fetch”?
“Fetch” is pronounced fehch (/fɛt͡ʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “fetch” in a sentence?
Here is “fetch” used in a sentence: “Can you fetch my glasses from the kitchen?”
What is another word for “fetch”?
Words with a similar meaning to “fetch” include collect.
What part of speech is “fetch”?
Depending on how it is used, “fetch” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “fetch” come from?
The word “fetch” comes from Old English. From Old English feċċan/fetian, meaning to bring near or get, tracing back to a Germanic root shared with Dutch vatten and German fassen ("to grasp").
Is “fetch” a common word?
“Fetch” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “fetch” have?
“Fetch” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to go and get something, then bring it back.
What is the difference between fetch and bring?
Fetch implies going to another location to get something and then returning with it, so it always involves movement away and back. Bring only describes carrying something toward a place or person and does not necessarily involve going to retrieve it first.
What does fetch mean in computing?
In computing, fetch refers to a program's act of pulling data, such as retrieving information from a database or a remote server. This usage extends the everyday sense of going to get something and bringing it back.
What does it mean when something will fetch a certain price?
When an item will fetch a certain price, it means it will sell for or bring in that amount at sale or auction. This is a distinct sense from the retrieving meaning of fetch, focused instead on value obtained.
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