What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
recover
Example
It took her a long time to recover from the flu. [recover: verb]
Example
The police were able to recover the stolen jewelry. [recover: verb]
Example
The company was able to recover its losses from the previous quarter. [recover: verb]
retrieve
Example
Can you help me retrieve my keys from under the couch? [retrieve: verb]
Example
I was able to retrieve the deleted file from my computer's recycle bin. [retrieve: verb]
Example
I'm trying to retrieve the name of that restaurant we went to last month. [retrieve: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Recover is more commonly used than retrieve in everyday language, especially in medical or financial contexts. Retrieve is more specific and often used in technological or memory-related contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between recover and retrieve?
Both recover and retrieve are versatile and can be used in various formality levels, allowing them to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
