retrieve

[ri-treev]

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.

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

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• retrievable adjective
• retrievability noun
• nonretrievable adjective
• unretrievable adjective
• unretrieved adjective
• retrievably adverb

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

Hamas officials have said in recent interviews that retrieving bodies of dead hostages will take time, as many are in collapsed or bombed-out tunnels or under the rubble.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Mr Donald said he subsequently made numerous unsuccessful efforts to retrieve the money from Gavin and had been unable to get a response from his former landlord on many occasions.

Read more on BBC

A post-mortem had been carried out on Mr Sanders before his mother knew he'd died and his clothes were disposed of before she could retrieve them.

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Difficulties retrieving the sounds of these words is one early indicator that a child may have reading difficulties in the future.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"There are still bodies we cannot retrieve from areas under Israeli control," he said.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• bring back www.thesaurus.com
• fetch 
• recapture 
• reclaim 
• recover 
• repair 
• rescue 
• restore 
• salvage 
• save