retrieve
retrieve — noun
1. the process of going to a place where something was stored or lost, taking hold
the process of going to a place where something was stored or lost, taking hold of it, and bringing it back to where it is needed
The retrieval of the sunken ship took the diving team over six months.
Digital retrieval of old emails is much faster than searching through paper files.
collocation: data retrieval / digital retrieval
Theo trained his dog in the retrieval of objects from water.
The hospital system allows for quick retrieval of patient records during emergencies.
Retrieval of the stolen paintings required cooperation between three police departments.
- recovery
emphasis on getting back something lost or stolen; broader than retrieval, which implies fetching from a known location
- reclamation
more formal and technical, often used for land or materials rather than data or objects
- loss
the state of no longer having something
文法句型
the retrieval of [noun]
用法筆記
Often used in computing and technical contexts ('data retrieval', 'document retrieval'), but also common in physical search contexts. The singular form is standard; the plural 'retrievals' is rare and used only in sport or technical logging.
2. in tennis, badminton, and similar racket games, the act of reaching and returnin
in tennis, badminton, and similar racket games, the act of reaching and returning a ball or shuttlecock that was very hard to get to
Her retrieval of the smash at match point drew gasps from the crowd.
The player's one-handed retrieval of the cross-court shot kept the rally alive.
collocation: make a retrieval / a brilliant retrieval
Yael's desperate retrieval sent the shuttlecock barely over the net.
That retrieval of a low backhand was the best shot of the tournament.
- return
general term for hitting the ball back; less dramatic than retrieval, which implies difficulty
文法句型
make a retrieval
an incredible retrieval
用法筆記
Countable; typically appears in sports commentary or match descriptions. Often preceded by an adjective ('brilliant retrieval', 'amazing retrieval', 'desperate retrieval').
retrieve — verb
1. to go to the place where an object, animal, or piece of information is located a
to go to the place where an object, animal, or piece of information is located and take it back, especially when it was lost, hidden, or stored somewhere else
Eitan used a special program to retrieve the deleted photos from his computer.
collocation: retrieve data / retrieve files from [device]
Wei threw the stick into the lake and his dog swam out to retrieve it.
Rachel carefully retrieved her passport from the bottom of her backpack.
The firefighter retrieved the crying child from the second-floor window.
Harper retrieved the report from the printer just before the meeting started.
文法句型
retrieve + noun phrase
retrieve + noun phrase + from + noun phrase
用法筆記
Frequently used in computing contexts ('retrieve data', 'retrieve files') and in everyday physical contexts. Also the standard verb for describing what a trained dog does. The preposition 'from' is typically used to specify the source location.
常見錯誤
2. in games like tennis and badminton, to return a shot that is heading to a spot o
in games like tennis and badminton, to return a shot that is heading to a spot on the court where it is very hard to get to
Lotte somehow retrieved the ball from the baseline and won the point.
collocation: retrieve a ball / retrieve a shot
Sumin lunged forward at the net to retrieve a drop shot that barely cleared the tape.
Joshua managed to retrieve a difficult backhand in the final set of the match.
Nadia impressed the crowd by retrieving a drop shot from just above the court surface.
- return
general term for hitting the ball back; does not carry the implication of difficulty or desperation
文法句型
retrieve + noun phrase (ball/shot)
用法筆記
Particularly common in tennis commentary and match descriptions. The object is always the ball or shot being returned. 'Somehow' and 'manage to' frequently collocate, emphasising the difficulty.
3. to bring a fact, name, or memory back into your mind after trying to remember it
to bring a fact, name, or memory back into your mind after trying to remember it — like finding a piece of information stored in your memory
Sirin could not retrieve the name of the actor even though she recognised his face.
The smell of baking bread retrieved happy memories of Gabriela's grandmother's kitchen.
collocation: retrieve a memory / retrieve a fact
Greta closed her eyes and tried to retrieve the details of their conversation.
Hao struggled to retrieve the Spanish vocabulary he had studied in high school.
- forget
to be unable to remember something
文法句型
retrieve + noun phrase (memory/fact/name)
用法筆記
Formal register; more common in written English than in conversation. The subject is a person, and the object is an abstract piece of information from memory. 'Recall' is more common in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
4. to act in a way that improves a difficult situation or that restores something o
to act in a way that improves a difficult situation or that restores something of value — such as your reputation, confidence, or a relationship — after it has been damaged
Ravindra apologised immediately, hoping to retrieve the situation before anyone walked out.
collocation: retrieve the situation
The company ran an advertising campaign to retrieve its image after the product recall.
Shanti made a sincere apology to retrieve her friendship with Layla.
The government took emergency measures to retrieve the country's failing economy.
文法句型
retrieve + abstract noun (situation/reputation/relationship)
用法筆記
Formal register. The object is always an abstract noun: 'situation', 'reputation', 'image', 'relationship', 'economy', 'confidence'. Distinguish from verb sense 1 (FETCH), which involves physical objects. Frequently used in news and business writing.