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”; 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

He told reporters the operation to retrieve the wounded officer from “one of the toughest areas in Iran” was possible with a mix of “talent” and “luck.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

The informant excused himself to head upstairs to retrieve the money, a signal for Haitian police commandos to storm in.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

The research, published in Optica, Optica Publishing Group's journal for high-impact research, shows that this new technique can increase how much information is stored while also making it easier to retrieve.

From Science Daily • Mar. 29, 2026

"Our teams continue to follow up legitimate leads regarding the location of Samba, however, we have so far been unable to find and retrieve her," said chief executive Laura Read.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

I slide my notebook back into my book bag, retrieve the heavy yearbook, and go to the front of the classroom.

From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day

Related Words

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