beyond retrieval

idiom

1
: not able to be brought back
The old data is now beyond retrieval.
2
: not able to be corrected, cured, or saved
The patient may be beyond retrieval.
The situation is beyond retrieval.

Examples of beyond retrieval in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
George was nearly beyond retrieval, a tiny glint of a mote, like a wayward flea. Cynthia Ozick, The New Yorker, 14 June 2021

Dictionary Entries Near beyond retrieval

Cite this Entry

“Beyond retrieval.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beyond%20retrieval. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.

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