retrieve

/ɹɪˈtɹiːv/

//ɹɪˈtɹiːv// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"retrieve" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“retrieve” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #11,451 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#11,451
frequency rank, English
8
letters
11
tracked misspellings
4
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To regain or get back something.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

retrieve vs retriever
89% similar
retrieve vs relieve
75% similar
retrieve vs reprieve
88% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for retrieve
PropertyValue
Headwordretrieve
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɹɪˈtɹiːv/
Letters8
Frequency rank#11,451
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs4
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “retrieve” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). retrieve lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for retrieve is 8 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɹɪˈtɹiːv/. Corpus data places it at rank #11,451 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 11 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for retrieve, with forms such as "ertrieve", "rertieve", and "retireve". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 4 confusable-pair relationships, "retriever", "relieve", "reprieve", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: Recorded in Middle English c. 1410 as retreve (altered to retrive in the 16th century; modern form is from c. 1650), from Middle French retruev-, stem of Old French retrover (“to find again”, modern retrouver), itself from re- (“again”) + trover (“to find”)… The correct English form is retrieve, spelled R-E-T-R-I-E-V-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To regain or get back something.
  2. 2
    To rescue (a creature).
  3. 3
    To salvage something
  4. 4
    To remedy or rectify something.
  5. 5
    To remember or recall something.
  6. 6
    To fetch or carry back something, especially (computing) a file or data record.
  7. 7
    To fetch and bring in game.
  8. 8
    To fetch and bring in game systematically.
  9. 9
    To fetch or carry back systematically, notably as a game.
  10. 10
    To make a difficult but successful return of the ball.
  11. 11
    To remedy the evil consequence of, to repair (a loss or damage).

Etymology

Recorded in Middle English c. 1410 as retreve (altered to retrive in the 16th century; modern form is from c. 1650), from Middle French retruev-, stem of Old French retrover (“to find again”, modern retrouver), itself from re- (“again”) + trover (“to find”), probably from Vulgar Latin *tropāre (“to compose”).

This word in other languages

recuperar(Español)récupérer(Français)zurückholen(Deutsch)recuperar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ertrieve,rertieve,retireve,retreive,retrieev,retrievve,retrivee,retrrieve,rettrieve,rretrieve,rterieve

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of retrieve - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

ertrieve2rertieve2retireve2retreive2retrieev2retrievve1retrivee2retrrieve1
Edit distance from "retrieve"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "retrieve"?
"retrieve" is spelled R-E-T-R-I-E-V-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ɹɪˈtɹiːv/.
What does "retrieve" mean?
As a verb, "retrieve" means: To regain or get back something.
What words are commonly confused with "retrieve"?
"retrieve" is commonly confused with "retriever", "relieve", "reprieve". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "retrieve"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "retrieve" is /ɹɪˈtɹiːv/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "retrieve"?
Recorded in Middle English c. 1410 as retreve (altered to retrive in the 16th century; modern form is from c. 1650), from Middle French retruev-, stem of Old French retrover (“to find again”, modern retrouver), itself from re- (“again”) + trover (... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “retrieve”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is R-E-T-R-I-E-V-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɹɪˈtɹiːv/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “retriever” - see the side-by-side comparison. retrieve vs retriever
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list