retrieve
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to recover or regain.
to retrieve the stray ball.
-
to bring back to a former and better state; restore.
to retrieve one's fortunes.
-
to make amends for.
to retrieve an error.
-
to make good; repair.
to retrieve a loss.
-
Hunting. (of hunting dogs) to fetch (killed or wounded game).
-
to draw back or reel in (a fishing line).
-
to rescue; save.
-
(in tennis, squash, handball, etc.) to make an in-bounds return of (a shot requiring running with the hand extended).
-
Computers. to locate and read (data) from storage, as for display on a monitor.
verb (used without object)
-
Hunting. to retrieve game.
-
to retrieve a fishing line.
noun
-
an act of retrieving; recovery.
-
the possibility of recovery.
verb
-
to get or fetch back again; recover
he retrieved his papers from various people's drawers
-
to bring back to a more satisfactory state; revive
-
to extricate from trouble or danger; rescue or save
-
to recover or make newly available (stored information) from a computer system
-
(also intr) (of a dog) to find and fetch (shot game)
-
tennis squash badminton to return successfully (a shot difficult to reach)
-
to recall; remember
noun
-
the act of retrieving
-
the chance of being retrieved
Related Words
See recover.
Other Word Forms
- nonretrievable adjective
- retrievability noun
- retrievable adjective
- retrievably adverb
- unretrievable adjective
- unretrieved adjective
Etymology
Origin of retrieve
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
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Another demonstration showed the robot retrieving a part from a person before handing it back a few metres away.
From Barron's
Several residents who had to abandon their homes returned to the neighborhood to retrieve furniture, appliances, mattresses, and even pets they had left behind.
From Barron's
One possible explanation is that Russia captures more Ukrainian bodies given its troops have been on the attack most of the time and, therefore, more able to retrieve them from the battlefield.
From BBC
The robot is equipped with a camera and "is better at retrieving information" than previous devices used, company spokesman Isao Ito told AFP.
From Barron's
In the Golden State Killer case, investigators retrieved old DNA processed in the Ventura County crime lab connected to one of his crimes.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
