retrieve

[ ri-treev ]

verb (used with object)

, re·trieved, re·triev·ing.

1. to recover or regain:

   to retrieve the stray ball.

2. to bring back to a former and better state; restore:

   to retrieve one's fortunes.

3. to make amends for:

   to retrieve an error.

4. to make good; repair:

   to retrieve a loss.

5. Hunting. (of hunting dogs) to fetch (killed or wounded game).
6. to draw back or reel in (a fishing line).
7. to rescue; save.
8. (in tennis, squash, handball, etc.) to make an in-bounds return of (a shot requiring running with the hand extended).
9. Computers. to locate and read (data) from storage, as for display on a monitor.

verb (used without object)

, re·trieved, re·triev·ing.

1. Hunting. to retrieve game.
2. to retrieve a fishing line.

noun

1. an act of retrieving; recovery.
2. the possibility of recovery.

retrieve

/ rɪˈtriːv /

verb

1. to get or fetch back again; recover

   he retrieved his papers from various people's drawers

2. to bring back to a more satisfactory state; revive
3. to extricate from trouble or danger; rescue or save
4. to recover or make newly available (stored information) from a computer system
5. also intr (of a dog) to find and fetch (shot game)
6. tennis squash badminton to return successfully (a shot difficult to reach)
7. to recall; remember

noun

1. the act of retrieving
2. the chance of being retrieved

Derived Forms

• reˌtrievaˈbility, noun
• reˈtrievable, adjective
• reˈtrievably, adverb

Other Words From

• re·trieva·ble adjective
• re·trieva·bili·ty noun
• nonre·trieva·ble adjective
• unre·trieva·ble adjective
• unre·trieved adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of retrieve¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English retreven, from Middle French retroev-, retreuv-, tonic stem of retrouver “to find again,” equivalent to re- re- + trouver “to find”; trover

Word History and Origins

Origin of retrieve¹

C15: from Old French retrover , from re- + trouver to find, perhaps from Vulgar Latin tropāre (unattested) to compose; see trover , troubadour

Synonym Study

See recover.

Example Sentences

James Howells, 39, has been trying to retrieve the hard drive containing his lost Bitcoin fortune, which he believes is in a Newport landfill site, for over a decade.

From BBC

Prime Minister Majaliwa said once the mission to retrieve everyone from the rubble is complete, an investigation into the cause of the collapse will be launched.

From BBC

It includes a plotline in which the British Security Services want to retrieve some compromising photographs of Princess Margaret, allegedly held in a security box by Trinidadian militant gangster Michael X.

From BBC

The rock and dust samples - the first to be retrieved from the far side of the Moon - were collected by the Chang’e-6 spacecraft, following a nearly two-month long mission which was fraught with risks.

From BBC

Stress is a double-edged sword when it comes to memory: stressful or otherwise emotional events are usually more memorable, but stress can also make it harder for us to retrieve memories.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• bring back
• fetch
• recapture
• reclaim
• recover
• repair
• rescue
• restore
• salvage
• save