🇬🇧 Retrieve meaning: English Vocabulary Flash Card

"Retrieve" means to go and get something that was somewhere else and bring it back to where you are. You might retrieve a ball that rolled across the yard, retrieve a book you left in another room, or retrieve your homework from your backpack. When you retrieve something, you don’t just find it—you also bring it back with you.

I had to retrieve my homework from the dog, who was trying to turn it into modern art with teeth marks.

The librarian watched me crawl under a table to retrieve a book and said, “That’s one way to dive into reading.”

When my cookie fell on the floor, I bravely retrieved it like a hero returning from a dangerous mission.

I tried to retrieve my hat from the tree, but the tree said nothing and kept the hat.

Some dogs are trained to retrieve things like balls, shoes, and even the TV remote—basically they’re furry butlers with wagging tails.

A boy dropped his red hat in the river. He asked the dog to retrieve it. He cried, "Retrieve! Retrieve!" The dog dove in, fought the current, and managed to retrieve the hat. The boy cheered, but the hat fell again. The dog ran back to retrieve it, then sat proud as the boy hugged him.

This word is at the C1 level, which means it’s part of advanced English. It’s used in sophisticated conversations, professional settings, and academic discussions. Words at this level help you express yourself fluently and precisely in nuanced situations.

Expanding your English vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and confidence in English. Watch the video above to memorize the word, understand its meaning, and see example sentences in action. Discover related words to grow your vocabulary naturally. Add words to your playlist for stress-free, effective learning—anytime, anywhere! Watch, learn, repeat.