retrieval

noun

re·​triev·​al ri-ˈtrē-vəl How to pronounce retrieval (audio)
Synonyms of retrievalnext
1
: an act or process of retrieving
2
: possibility of being retrieved or of recovering
beyond retrieval

Synonyms of retrieval

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of retrieval in a Sentence

the retrieval of stolen goods The system allows quick storage and retrieval of data.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The intention for this breed was to work closely with hunters, so they're locked in on human cues, scents and retrieval. — Pat Mueller, USA Today, 18 June 2026 Desperate to find Fluffy, Melissa sought the assistance of a pet retrieval specialist to search the neighborhood and nearby areas. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026 This Mars Sample Return project was well underway, with specimens cached on Mars ready for retrieval, but is now in limbo because of budget cuts. — Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 22 June 2026 Context windows, retrieval systems and long-term memory architectures allow AI to access information beyond what fits in a single input. — Ashutosh Saxena, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for retrieval

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1643, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of retrieval was circa 1643

Phrases Containing retrieval

Rhymes for retrieval

See All Rhymes for retrieval

Browse Nearby Words

retrievable
retrieval
retrieve
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Retrieval.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retrieval. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

retrieval

noun
re·​triev·​al ri-ˈtrē-vəl How to pronounce retrieval (audio)
: an act or process of retrieving

More from Merriam-Webster on retrieval

Nglish: Translation of retrieval for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All