retrieve
rih-TREEV
Retrieve (verb) means to get something back, especially something that was lost, stored, or left somewhere. Example: “He went back to retrieve his phone from the taxi.”
verb
1
To get something back, especially something that was lost, stored, or left somewhere.
"He went back to retrieve his phone from the taxi."
"The program retrieves customer data from the database."
"She managed to retrieve her lost files from an old backup."
2
To fetch and bring back, as a dog does with game or a thrown object.
"The dog retrieved the ball and dropped it at her feet."
"Our spaniel loves to retrieve sticks from the lake."
"Training a puppy to retrieve a toy takes patience and plenty of treats."
3
To fix or make up for a mistake, loss, or bad situation.
"It took months to retrieve the company's reputation after the scandal."
How to use retrieve
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo get something back, fetch it, or recover from a setback.
Common pairings
retrieve a file
retrieve information
retrieve a ball
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Word forms
- Plural
- retrieves
- Third person singular
- retrieves
- Past tense
- retrieved
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He went back to _____ his phone from the taxi.
Etymology
From Old French retrover, "to find again" — from re- ("again") + trover ("to find").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for retrieve
See all rhymes for retrieve →Frequently asked questions
What does “retrieve” mean?
The word “retrieve” means to get something back, especially something that was lost, stored, or left somewhere. In plain terms, to get something back, fetch it, or recover from a setback.
How do you pronounce “retrieve”?
“Retrieve” is pronounced rih-TREEV (/ɹɪˈtɹiːv/ in IPA).
How do you use “retrieve” in a sentence?
Here is “retrieve” used in a sentence: “He went back to retrieve his phone from the taxi.”
What part of speech is “retrieve”?
“Retrieve” is a verb.
Where does the word “retrieve” come from?
The word “retrieve” comes from Old French. From Old French retrover, "to find again" — from re- ("again") + trover ("to find").
Is “retrieve” a common word?
“Retrieve” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “retrieve” have?
“Retrieve” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to get something back, especially something that was lost, stored, or left somewhere.
What is the difference between retrieve and recover?
Retrieve and recover both mean to get something back, but retrieve often implies actively fetching something from a specific place, such as retrieving a file from storage, while recover more often implies getting back something lost, damaged, or taken, such as recovering stolen property or recovering from an illness.
What does it mean to retrieve data?
To retrieve data means to get information back from where it was stored, such as a database or file system, so it can be viewed or used again. This matches the general sense of retrieve as getting back something that was stored or left somewhere.
Why is retrieve used to describe dogs fetching objects?
Retrieve describes a dog fetching and bringing back game or a thrown object, which is why breeds trained for this task are called retrievers. This sense extends the general meaning of getting something back to the specific action of physically going to get an object and returning it.
