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View synonyms for

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

/ ɪˈٰː /

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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the act of retrieving
  2. the chance of being retrieved
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˌٰ𱹲ˈٲ, noun
  • ˈٰ𱹲, adjective
  • ˈٰ𱹲, adverb
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Other Word Forms

  • ·ٰa· adjective
  • ·ٰa·i·ٲ noun
  • non·ٰa· adjective
  • un·ٰa· adjective
  • ܲr·ٰ𱹱 adjective
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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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of retrieve1

C15: from Old French retrover , from re- + trouver to find, perhaps from Vulgar Latin ٰDZ (unattested) to compose; see trover , troubadour
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Synonym Study

See recover.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Some customers also questioned that, with one person saying after receiving their email, "store staff said they are unable to retrieve the item"

From

The email sets out the "step-by-step guide to vehicle retrieval" and states the "car stacker will remain closed to all vehicles, to allow vehicle owners time to retrieve their vehicles".

From

He recovered, retrieved the ball and threw to first for the final out.

From

The experiment will be retrieved by a recovery vessel and sent back to the lab in London to be examined.

From

That makes the action sequence showing Joel methodically gunning down armed men and women to retrieve his surrogate daughter thrilling and baleful because we are watching him write a check destined to come due.

From

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