/ Dictionary / Index R retrieval: Meaning and Definition of Find definitions for: re•triev•al Pronunciation: (ri-trē'vul), [key] — n. the act of retrieving. the chance of recovery or restoration: lost beyond retrieval. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease. See also: retrieval (Thesaurus) retributivism retrieve Related Content Daily Word Quiz: panacea Analogy of the Day: Today’s Analogy Spelling Bee: Today’s Spelling Bee Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language