The secretary went to the storage room to retrieve the file.
Source: tatoeba (2418617)
Retrieve
/ɹɪˈtɹiːv/
Synonyms for "retrieve" (164 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (33)
Noun(11 words)
Adjective(2 words)
automatic rippingconsistent pull
Strong matches (49)
Noun(19 words)
field of chemistryharvestingindex based accessindexing operationlookuplookup structureorder id lookuppull upquarriesquarryingqueryquery databasequery processingqueryingreactivatingreboundingrecall election processrecapturingreclaiming
Adjective(1 words)
quick scrape
Related words (82)
Noun(17 words)
reclaimsrecollectingreconstruct the datarecoupingrecoveringrediscoveringrememberingrescuesrescuingsalvagingscrapesscrapingsearch methodsearchessnarfsnarfstracking order number
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: recover, regain, access, accessed, accesses.
- Sentence evidence is available for retrieve, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "retrieve".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "retrieve"
Keep "retrieve" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "retrieve" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "retrieve", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "retrieve" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
12 entriesMore specific
7 entriesartifact retrievalcache lookupdatabase queryequipment retrievalfile fetchpackage retrievalrecord retrieval
Collocations
6 entriescache lookupdata retrievaldatabase queryfile fetchmemory retrievalrecord retrieval
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
5 entriessimilar
2 entriesTranslations
27 translations across 12 languages.
Armenian
2 entries- հետ բերել verb (to fetch or carry back something)
- վերադարձնել verb (to fetch or carry back something)
Dutch
1 entries- terugbrengen verb (to fetch or carry back something)
Finnish
1 entries- noutaa verb (to fetch or carry back something)
German
4 entries- (Daten) abrufen verb (to fetch or carry back something)
- (Daten) einlesen verb (to fetch or carry back something)
- (Daten) holen verb (to fetch or carry back something)
- zurückbringen verb (to fetch or carry back something)
Hebrew
2 entries- הביא חזרה verb (to fetch or carry back something)
- החזיר verb (to fetch or carry back something)
Italian
3 entries- raccattare verb (to fetch or carry back something)
- rintracciare verb (to fetch or carry back something)
- riportare verb (to fetch or carry back something)
Khmer
1 entries- ទៅយក verb (to fetch or carry back something)
Polish
2 entries- przynieść verb (to fetch or carry back something)
- przynosić verb (to fetch or carry back something)
Romanian
1 entries- aduce înapoi verb (to fetch or carry back something)
Russian
2 entries- принести́ verb (to fetch or carry back something)
- приноси́ть verb (to fetch or carry back something)
Spanish
4 entries- coger verb (to fetch or carry back something)
- diñarse verb (to fetch or carry back something)
- entregarse verb (to fetch or carry back something)
- ir a por verb (to fetch or carry back something)
Vietnamese
1 entries- thu thập verb (to fetch or carry back something)
Sample sentences
20 total sentences available.
I can't retrieve the paper.
Source: tatoeba (2490414)
Your attempt to retrieve your password was not successful. Please try again.
Source: tatoeba (2595693)
The police had to retrieve the murder weapon to prove Dan's guilt.
Source: tatoeba (3930968)
Showing 4 of 20 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "retrieve"?
Closest matches include recover, regain, access, accessed, accesses.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "retrieve"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.