retrieve

USri-TREEV/ɹɪˈtɹiːv/

Verbretrieves, retrieving, retrieved

Noun pluralretrieves

15 meanings of retrieve

Practice

1
verbtransitive
To get something back after losing it.
Like finding a toy that rolled under the couch and bringing it back.
She managed to retrieve her phone from the lost-and-found box.
After the storm, they retrieved their boat from the rocks.
Similarrecover, regain, reclaim, recoup
Oppositelose
Note
2
verbtransitive
To go and bring something back, such as a file stored on a computer.
Like a dog fetching a ball, but the computer brings back your file.
Click the link to retrieve your saved document.
She retrieved the old email from the archive folder.
Similarfetch, get, collect
Note
3
verbtransitive
To bring something back into your mind that you knew before.
Like searching your memory and pulling out a name you forgot.
I couldn't retrieve her name, though we'd met twice before.
He slowly retrieved the memory of that long summer.
Similarrecall, remember
Oppositeforget
4
verbtransitive
To save an animal from danger and bring it to safety.
Firefighters retrieve cats from tall trees more often than you'd expect.
The lifeguard retrieved the struggling swimmer from the waves.
Similarrescue, save
5
verbtransitive
To save something useful from being lost or thrown away.
Volunteers retrieve usable bricks from the demolished houses.
They retrieved a few photos from the flooded basement.
Similarsalvage, recover, rescue, save
6
verbtransitive
To go and bring back birds or animals that a hunter has shot.
A good gun dog will retrieve ducks from icy water without hesitation.
The spaniel retrieved the fallen pheasant and laid it at his feet.
Similarfetch
7
verbtransitive
To fix a mistake or a bad situation.
A sincere apology can sometimes retrieve a damaged friendship.
He hoped a strong second half would retrieve the match.
Similarsalvage, rescue, save, redeem
8
verbintransitive
To find and bring back shot birds or animals, as a trained dog does.
Labradors retrieve well from both land and water.
The young dog is still learning to retrieve.
Similarfetch
Note
9
verbintransitive
To run after a thrown object and bring it back, often for fun.
Our puppy loves to retrieve in the backyard for hours.
Some dogs will retrieve until they drop from exhaustion.
Similarfetch
10
verbtransitive
To hit back a ball that was very hard to reach.
Like stretching out at the last moment to catch something before it falls.
She lunged to retrieve the smash at the very last second.
He sprinted across the court and retrieved the drop shot.
Similarreturn
Note
11
nouncountable
An act of getting something back.
His slow retrieve kept the bait close to the bottom of the lake.
Each retrieve of the net brought up more silver fish.
Similarrecovery
12
nouncountable
A return of a ball that was very hard to reach.
That retrieve from the back corner won her the point.
The crowd roared at his desperate retrieve near the net.
Similarreturn
Note

Less common meanings

13
verbobsolete
To fix the harm caused by a loss or damage.
Accept my sorrow, and retrieve my fall.
1718, Mat[thew] Prior, “Solomon on the Vanity of the World. A Poem in Three Books.”Here, retrieve means to repair the harm done by my fall.
Note
14
nounobsolete
The finding of game birds again after they have been startled into flight.
we'll bring Wax to the retrieve
1625, Ben[jamin] Jonson, The Staple of Newes.Here, retrieve means finding game birds again after they fly up.
Note
15
nounobsolete
A new search for something, or the finding of something.
Note

Practice

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Origin

This word comes from an Old French word meaning "to find again," made from re- ("again") plus "to find."