retrieval

noun

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

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.
These embeddings enable LLMs to capture the semantics of text, supporting tasks like semantic search, text classification and similarity comparisons for efficient data processing and retrieval. Yuriy Gnatyuk, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024 Support chatbots came next, at 31%, followed by enterprise search and retrieval, data extraction and transformation, and meeting summarization. Hayden Field, CNBC, 20 Nov. 2024 Instead of trying the food retrieval that had been trained on, the immigrants used the resident solution on their first try. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024 The city extended its own deadline for body retrieval, but even with the extra time, most sources say fewer than 200 bodies were actually relocated. Christina Ray Stanton, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Oct. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near retrieval

Cite this Entry

“Retrieval.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retrieval. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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