Word
retrieving
Phoneticsre·triev·ing, stress on the second syllable
US/ɹiˈtɹivɪŋ/
UK/ɹɪtɹˈiːvɪŋ/
Definition
v. getting something back from the place where it was left or stored. You use this when you find information on a computer or go to pick up an object.
v. the present participle of 'retrieve', referring to the act of recovering or regaining possession of something. Often used in the context of data recovery or physical objects being brought back from a distance.
Examples
“The dog is retrieving the ball from the tall grass.”
“The system is currently retrieving your account details from the central database.”
“By retrieving the lost manuscript from the archives, the historian was able to challenge the long-held assumptions regarding the treaty's secret clauses.”
Examples
simple
“The dog is retrieving the ball from the tall grass.”
contextual
“The system is currently retrieving your account details from the central database.”
complex
“By retrieving the lost manuscript from the archives, the historian was able to challenge the long-held assumptions regarding the treaty's secret clauses.”
Usage
As a transitive verb, it requires a direct object representing the thing being recovered.
Real-World Examples
“That area plays a key role in forming and retrieving what scientists call episodic memories: memories of specific events and experiences in a person's life.” “Rikardsen then waited eight hours for the bear to move away before retrieving the camera and reviewing the images.” - Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Pre-1
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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