retrieve
rih-TREEV
/rɪˈtriːv/
To get or bring something back from a place; to regain possession of.
Implies a purposeful journey to find and bring back an object, often with care (e.g., a dog retrieving game without damaging it).
The story behind the word. Comes from the Old French 'retrouver', composed of 're-' (again) and 'trouver' (to find). It originally referred to hunters finding lost scent trails or lost game, which is why we still call certain hunting dogs 'retrievers'.
Word relationships
- fetch: 'Fetch' is the casual, everyday word for bringing something back, while 'retrieve' is more formal and technically precise.
- recover: 'Recover' implies finding something that was lost or stolen, whereas 'retrieve' focuses on the physical act of bringing it back.
- discard: To throw something away or get rid of it deliberately.
Commonly confused with
- receive: 'Receive' is a passive act of getting something given to you, while 'retrieve' is an active process of going to get it.
Word family
- retriever (noun): A breed of dog trained to find and bring back game; a person who retrieves.
- retrieval (noun): The process of getting something back.
Collocations
- retrieve information
- retrieve a ball
- retrieve data
- fail to retrieve
Example sentences
- "The eager Labrador jumped into the lake to retrieve the floating tennis ball." Playing fetch with a pet
- "The pointer was trained to retrieve the fallen game from the thick brush." A hunting scenario
Memory hook
Think of 're-' (again) + 'try' to find. You try again to find and bring it back. Find it again
When not to use
Do not use 'retrieve' when you simply mean 'to take' or 'to steal' something without returning it to its owner.
Fun facts
- Golden and Labrador Retrievers have 'soft mouths,' an evolutionary trait that allows them to carry game in their jaws without biting or damaging it.
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