we retrieved

USAGE SUMMARY

"we retrieved" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to express the idea that you or another group of people collected or obtained something. For example: "We retrieved the data from the server room."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We retrieved 87,811 CPPs and designated them non-pathogenic.

Nature

"We stored information, and now we retrieved it.

MIT Technology Review

For the systematic literature evaluation we retrieved 31 studies.

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

Results: We retrieved 67 articles, 63 of which were excluded.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

With me shining the flashlight and him reaching with the broom, we retrieved the button.

The New York Times

The corpses were boiling and we were burned as we retrieved them".

The Guardian

"The worst was that it wasn't only people, it was corpses we retrieved from the water".

The Guardian

We retrieved the literature in PubMed and found that 13 compounds in FFDS have antinociceptive effects.

Nature

In all, we retrieved data from 41,641 American, Canadian, and British college students.

Harvard Business Review

We retrieved the potato ortholog and closest paralogs (four total) by conducting reciprocal best BLAST hits.

Nature

For SureChEMBL, we retrieved all patents directly from the database.

Journal of Cheminformatics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we retrieved" when you want to emphasize the action of getting something back or obtaining something after a search or effort.

Common error

While "we retrieved" is generally acceptable, consider more formal alternatives like "we obtained" or "we acquired" in academic or professional writing to maintain a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we retrieved" typically functions as the main verb within a sentence, indicating the action of obtaining or recovering something. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in various contexts, as shown in the examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

59%

News & Media

29%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we retrieved" is a versatile phrase used to indicate the action of obtaining or recovering something. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct and frequently used across various domains, especially in scientific and news contexts. While generally neutral in tone, consider more formal alternatives like "we obtained" in academic or professional settings. To ensure clarity and appropriateness, consider alternatives such as "we collected" or "we recovered" to better fit the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we obtained

This alternative emphasizes the act of gaining or receiving something, often through a formal process.

we collected

This suggests a gathering or accumulation of items or information from various sources.

we recovered

This implies regaining something that was lost or taken away.

we extracted

This indicates the process of carefully removing or drawing something out from a larger source.

we acquired

Suggests gaining possession of something, often through purchase or effort.

we secured

This implies obtaining something with effort and ensuring its safety or stability.

we regained

Similar to "we recovered", but can also refer to restoring something to a previous state.

we reclaimed

This suggests retaking possession of something that was previously lost or abandoned.

we accessed

This emphasizes the act of gaining entry or the ability to use something.

we unearthed

Suggests discovering something hidden or previously unknown, often through investigation.

FAQs

How can I use "we retrieved" in a sentence?

You can use "we retrieved" to indicate that you or a group of people have obtained or recovered something, such as "We retrieved the lost data from the backup server".

What can I say instead of "we retrieved"?

You can use alternatives like "we obtained", "we collected", or "we recovered" depending on the context.

Is "we retrieved" formal or informal?

"We retrieved" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in various contexts, but in more formal writing, consider using "we obtained" or "we acquired".

What's the difference between "we retrieved" and "we found"?

"We retrieved" implies an effort to find or recover something, whereas "we found" simply suggests discovering something, possibly without actively searching for it. For example, you might say "We retrieved the file from the archives" versus "We found a mistake in the report".