is retrieving

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is retrieving" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are describing an ongoing action of obtaining or accessing information or data. Example: "The system is retrieving the latest updates from the server."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Siri's great trick is inferring meaning; Watson's great trick is retrieving information.

MIT Technology Review

A bar code scanner inside the gripper tells the robot whether it is retrieving the right book.

The New York Times - Tech

One important objective of the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) is retrieving global aerosol loading and microphysical properties.

Remote Sensing of Environment

But the point of dumping it in is retrieving it and setting up a forecheck; that's how the Penguins can establish their puck possession game.

The New York Times

"I could easily imagine us partnering with a Ricoh or a Xerox or someone else whose strength is retrieving visuals for documents," she said.

The New York Times

One of his specialties is retrieving files, like bank records and e-mail messages to secret lovers, that a spouse has tried to delete.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

The data is retrieved from Genevestigator (www.genevestigator.com).

Rice

Data is retrieved from the Orbis database.

International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility

They were retrieving and frolicking.

The New Yorker

So now, we're retrieving the status we deserve.

Huffington Post

Etienne was retrieved.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is retrieving" when you want to emphasize the ongoing process of getting something back or accessing stored information, especially in technical or formal contexts. For example, "The software is retrieving data from the database."

Common error

Avoid using "is retrieving" in very informal conversations where simpler alternatives like "is getting" or "is finding" would be more appropriate. Overusing formal language can sound unnatural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is retrieving" functions as a present continuous verb phrase, indicating an ongoing action. Ludwig confirms its usability in describing current processes, such as a system accessing information.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Academia

19%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is retrieving" is a grammatically sound and commonly used verb phrase that describes an ongoing action of accessing or recovering something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for various contexts, particularly in technical, academic, and news-related domains. While versatile, it's best to reserve "is retrieving" for situations where you want to emphasize the process of getting something back or accessing specific information. Remember to consider simpler alternatives like "is getting" in more informal settings, ensuring your language remains natural and contextually appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is obtaining

Focuses more generally on getting something, not necessarily something that was previously lost or stored.

is recovering

Emphasizes getting something back, particularly after it was lost or damaged.

is accessing

Highlights the act of gaining entry to something, such as information or data.

is fetching

Suggests going to get something and bringing it back, often used in a technical or programming context.

is regaining

Specifically implies getting something back that was lost, often used for abstract concepts like control or health.

is recalling

Refers to bringing something back to memory.

is extracting

Implies carefully removing something from a larger source.

is gathering

Suggests collecting things together, often from multiple sources.

is collecting

Similar to gathering, but can also imply taking something as part of a set.

is securing

Focuses on making something safe and obtaining it, often implying effort or difficulty.

FAQs

How can I use "is retrieving" in a sentence?

"Is retrieving" describes the act of getting something back or accessing stored information. For example, "The search engine "is retrieving" the most relevant results for your query".

What's the difference between "is retrieving" and "is obtaining"?

"Is retrieving" implies getting something back or from a specific location, while "is obtaining" is a more general term for acquiring something, regardless of its origin.

What are some alternatives to "is retrieving"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "is accessing", "is recovering", or "is fetching".

When is it best to use "is retrieving" over other similar phrases?

Use "is retrieving" when you want to emphasize the process of getting something back, especially in a technical or formal setting. For example, when describing how a computer system is accessing data.