fetch
Fetch (verb) means to go and get something, then bring it back. Example: “Can you fetch my glasses from the kitchen?”
How to use fetch
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo go get something and bring it back.
In computing, "fetch" is the standard word for a program pulling data from somewhere else, like an API.
Trace the full origin ↓Word forms
fetched past tense, fetches plural, fetches plural, fetches singular
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").
Synonyms
View more →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.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include fetch: