retrieve
word
Definition
To get something back, especially something that was lost, left somewhere, or stored. It can also mean to find and bring back information from a database or storage.
Usage & Nuances
More formal or technical than 'get back'; common in IT ('retrieve data'), formal speech, and some legal/official contexts. Used with both objects ('retrieve a ball') and abstract items like 'information', 'files'. Often confused with 'recover', which emphasizes returning to original state.
Example Sentences
Can you retrieve the ball from the garden?
basic
I need to retrieve my keys from the office.
basic
He tried to retrieve his lost phone.
basic
I was able to retrieve all my emails after the system crash.
natural
The police managed to retrieve the stolen painting.
natural
You can easily retrieve files from the cloud backup.
natural