retrieve

American  

[ri-treev] / rɪˈtriv /

verb (used with object)

retrieved, retrieving

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.

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verb (used without object)

retrieved, retrieving

1. Hunting. to retrieve game.

2. to retrieve a fishing line.

noun

1. an act of retrieving; recovery.

2. the possibility of recovery.

retrieve British  

/ 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

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noun

1. the act of retrieving

2. 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”; see trover

Explanation

When you retrieve something, you bring it back. Lots of dogs love to retrieve tennis balls, bringing them back to you over and over again. You might retrieve your cell phone from the car, or the toys a baby throws repeatedly on the floor. You can also retrieve a memory from the recesses of your mind, or struggle to remember someone's name and then suddenly retrieve it. A retriever is a dog that's bred to bring things back — in fact, this is the word's earliest use, from the fifteenth century. The Old French root is retreuver, "find again," from re-, "again," and trouver, "to find."

Example Sentences

On a Fox News show on Friday, host Bret Baier asked Trump whether it might be feasible to retrieve Iran’s enriched uranium.

From Slate • May 18, 2026

While traditional tools simply store or retrieve information, conversational AI can make users feel emotionally validated and socially supported.

From Science Daily • May 11, 2026

After a round in September and February, the couple managed to retrieve six embryos and hope to take part in the same programme.

From BBC • May 3, 2026

The AI told me how to retrieve what’s called a “key,” which is a long string of numbers and letters to unlock the data.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 3, 2026

Five minutes drifted by, then ten, then twenty; at last, the judge ordered the bailiff to retrieve them.

From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann

Related Words

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