What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
recapture
Example
The police were able to recapture the escaped prisoner. [recapture: verb]
Example
The artist tried to recapture the essence of her childhood in her latest painting. [recapture: verb]
retrieve
Example
I need to retrieve my keys from the lost and found. [retrieve: verb]
Example
Can you help me retrieve the file from the server? [retrieve: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Retrieve is more commonly used than recapture in everyday language. Retrieve is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while recapture is less common and may be more specific to certain contexts, such as military or sports.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between recapture and retrieve?
Both recapture and retrieve are formal words that can be used in various formality levels, depending on the context and situation.