Verb

ab|rufen

to retrieve, to recall, to fetch

Ich kann meine E-Mails nicht abrufen.

I can't retrieve my emails.

Der Sportler muss seine beste Leistung abrufen.

The athlete has to deliver his best performance.

((sth.)) abrufen to retrieve ((sth.)) He retrieves the data.

holen (to get), herunterladen (to download), abfragen (to query)

From 'ab-' (from, away) and 'rufen' (to call). Literally 'to call from' or 'to call away', as in calling data from a server.

Imagine 'calling' ('rufen') for data to come 'from' ('ab-') a source like a computer or your memory.

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