# retrieving

/ɹiˈtɹivɪŋ/ (US) · /ɹɪtɹˈiːvɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/retrieving
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

- As a transitive verb, it requires a direct object representing the thing being recovered.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.