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

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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.
In 2024, there were more than 39,000 egg retrieval or freezing cycles in the United States, up from 6,090 in 2014. — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026 According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, the process involves hormone medications to stimulate egg development, monitoring through bloodwork and ultrasounds and an outpatient egg-retrieval procedure. — Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 10 Aug. 2026 Leaders should monitor changes in input patterns, missing information, schemas, populations, products, geography, language, prompts, retrieval sources, foundation-model versions, external tools, and vendor dependencies. — Gerald J. Leonard, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 That mattered because the web had not yet become a pure retrieval machine. — Alan Bradley, ArsTechnica, 7 Aug. 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

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Browse Nearby Words

retrievable
retrieval
retrieve
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Cite this Entry

“Retrieval.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retrieval. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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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

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