retrieve

verb re·trieve \ ri-ˈtrēv \

Updated on: 19 May 2018

Definition of retrieve

retrieved; retrieving

transitive verb

1 : to locate and bring in (killed or wounded game)

2 : to call to mind again

3 : to get back again : regain

4 a : rescue, salvage

b : to return (something, such as a ball or shuttlecock that is difficult to reach) successfully

5 : restore, revive

his writing retrieves the past

6 : to remedy the evil consequences of : correct

7 : to get and bring back; especially : to recover from storage

retrieve information

intransitive verb

: to bring in game

a dog that retrieves well

; also : to bring back an object thrown by a person

—

retrievability

play \ri-ˌtrē-və-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

—

retrievable

play \ri-ˈtrē-və-bəl\ adjective

See retrieve defined for English-language learners

See retrieve defined for kids

Examples of retrieve in a Sentence

Many archaeological relics were retrieved from the site.
Police retrieved his stolen car.
You can quickly retrieve data.
The files were retrieved from the computer.
He was able to retrieve the document.
The dog is learning how to retrieve.
The dog has been trained to retrieve birds.

Recent Examples of retrieve from the Web

Both Bregman and Pollock tried to stand — Pollock to go home and Bregman to retrieve the ball.

— chandler rome, Houston Chronicle, "Missed chances, controversy plague Astros in loss to Diamondbacks," 6 May 2018
Alex Claudio entered and allowed a flare to left fied to Andrew Benintendi, and shortstop Jurickson Profar retreated into shallow left, at the line, to retrieve the ball but then didn't seem to know where to throw.

— jeff wilson, star-telegram, "DeShields does his part (again), but Rangers blow one to Red Sox | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 5 May 2018
The go-ahead goal came after the hamstrung Santos successfully checked an attacker, retrieved the ground ball and whipped a pass to Vasserman, who ran downfield and fired past the goaltender.

— aaron carter, Philly.com, "Phil Vasserman nets 100th career goal in Central lacrosse win," 1 May 2018
There are penalties if that happens: The player has to drop his bat and race to retrieve the ball.

— stan grossfeld, BostonGlobe.com, "The baseball team without a home," 1 May 2018
After retrieving the ball, White jumped high into the air and performed a perfect Santo heel click.

— paul sullivan, chicagotribune.com, "WGN celebrates 70 years of televising Cubs baseball," 15 Apr. 2018
Consumers will have the right to retrieve their data and give (or sell) it to another business.

— kristy westgard, Bloomberg.com, "In Europe They’re Giving Users Control of Their Online Data," 10 Apr. 2018
The health care institution paid nearly $50,000 to retrieve patient data.

— larry greenemeier, Scientific American, "Urban Bungle: Atlanta Cyber Attack Puts Other Cities on Notice," 4 Apr. 2018
As Kris Bryant lined a triple down the right-field line, Betts continued his interview with the ESPN crew while running to retrieve the ball.

— andrew joseph, For The Win, "Mookie Betts has brilliant reaction to fly ball during in-game interview: 'I ain’t getting this one'," 27 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'retrieve.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of retrieve

Middle English retreven, from Anglo-French retrueve-, present stem of retrover to find again, from re- + trover to compose, invent, find, from Vulgar Latin *tropare — more at troubadour

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1814

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year