fetch

1 of 3

verb

ˈfech 

fetched; fetching; fetches

transitive verb

1

a

: to go or come after and bring or take back

fetch a doctor

b

: derive, deduce

fetch analogies from nature

2

a

: to cause to come

one shot fetched down

b

: to bring in (a price or similar return) : realize

The hogs fetched a good price at the market.

c

: interest, attract

… he doesn't fetch the girls like William …

—D. H. Lawrence

3

a

: to give (a blow) by striking : deal

fetch him a clip on the chin

b

chiefly dialectal : bring about, accomplish

c(1)

: to take in : draw

sat fetching her breath in dry sobs

—Ngaio Marsh

(2)

: to bring forth : heave

fetch a sigh

4

a

: to reach by sailing especially against the wind or tide

fetch the harbor before the storm breaks

b

: to arrive at : reach

fetched home after a long ride

intransitive verb

1

: to get and bring something

specifically : to retrieve killed game

2

: to take a roundabout way : circle

3

a

: to hold a course on a body of water

fetch to windward

b

: veer

fetcher noun

fetch

2 of 3

noun (1)

1

: trick, stratagem

2

: an act or instance of fetching

3

a

: the distance along open water or land over which the wind blows

b

: the distance traversed by waves without obstruction

fetch

3 of 3

noun (2)

: doppelgänger sense 2

Synonyms

Verb

• bring
• cost
• go (for)
• run
• sell (for)

Noun (1)

• artifice
• device
• dodge
• flimflam
• gambit
• gimmick
• jig
• juggle
• knack
• play
• ploy
• ruse
• scheme
• shenanigan
• sleight
• stratagem
• trick
• wile

Noun (2)

• alter ego
• carbon
• carbon copy
• clone
• counterpart
• doppelgänger
• doppelganger
• double
• duplicate
• duplication
• facsimile
• image
• likeness
• look-alike
• match
• mirror image
• picture
• replica
• ringer
• spit
• spitting image
• twin

Examples of fetch in a Sentence

Verb

If you throw the ball the dog will fetch it.

Hunting dogs are trained to fetch.

This table should fetch quite a bit at auction.

The house fetched more than we expected.

Noun (1)

his latest fetch to win back his girlfriend smacks of desperation

Noun (2)

with its standard assortment of chain stores and central food court, the new mall is pretty much the fetch of 1,000 other malls

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Among the 177 lots on offer by Bonhams are even more magnificent pieces from the brand: A 25.5-carat sapphire and diamond ring from 1968 is expected to fetch $250,000 to $350,000, and a crossover diamond bracelet from 1963 has been given an estimate of $180,000 to $280,000. —Tori Latham, Robb Report, 18 May 2024

Westminster’s Canine Celebration Day As part of Westminster’s Canine Celebration Day and timed to the 148th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the reigning 2023 Best in Show Champion Buddy Holly fetched the first pitch — thrown by Busta Rhymes — at the New York Mets home game on Saturday. —Kirsten Chuba, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun (1)

Middle English fecchen, from Old English fetian, feccan; perhaps akin to Old English fōt foot — more at foot

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (1)

circa 1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 1787, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing fetch

• fetch and carry
• fetch up

Kids Definition

fetch

verb

ˈfech

1

: to go after and bring back

2

: to cause to come : bring forth

3

: to bring as a price : sell for

fetcher noun