retrieve
verb (used with object)
to recover or regain.
was retrieving
-
past progressiveof retrieve.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
While Sir Terence was retrieving the donor heart, the recipient had a cardiac arrest.
From BBC ● Nov. 25, 2025
Dowdy’s first task that evening was retrieving the Chevy Trax in Alexandria.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2025
A poor fisherman in a Turkish village was retrieving his net from a lake when he found that a white stork had alighted on his boat.
From New York Times ● Apr. 1, 2024
It’s not clear why the teacher was retrieving a phone.
From Seattle Times ● May 28, 2022
Later, as Officer Delinko was retrieving his third thermos of coffee from the squad car, he thought he saw a series of small white flashes at the other end of the property.
From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen
