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

In April 2022, the German federal police, acting on information from their American colleagues, seized the servers hosting Hydra, replacing its banner with their logo and retrieving $25 million in Bitcoin.

From Salon

Messages can be difficult to retrieve or even set to disappear - whereas those sent via approved channels are fully retrievable, meaning they can be looked into if there is any suspected wrongdoing.

From BBC

Cyclists say they have resorted to "dangerous" methods to find and take back their own stolen bikes, claiming it is the best hope of retrieving them.

From BBC

Twelve days later, after the Israeli military finally withdrew from the area, the family members’ bodies, including Hind’s, were retrieved from the bullet-ridden car.

From Salon

The team retrieved it using a contraption made from a rope and a broom handle.

From BBC

Related Words

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