zurückholen

Zurückholen is a German verb meaning to fetch back, retrieve, or reclaim something that has been taken away, borrowed, or is otherwise not in one’s possession. It can also express the idea of recalling or bringing back a person or an item to a previous place or state. The word is formed from the prefix zurück (back) and the verb holen (to fetch). It is a separable-prefix verb, so in present tense the prefix splits off: Ich hole das Buch zurück. In the perfect (Perfekt) tense the prefix stays attached and the past participle is zurückgeholt: Ich habe das Buch zurückgeholt.

Usage and grammar: zurückholen is transitive and typically takes a direct object (das Buch, das Geld, einen Gegenstand). It can be complemented with a prepositional phrase indicating source or location, for example aus dem Regal, vom Konto, aus dem Ausland. Examples: “Ich hole das Buch aus dem Regal zurück.” “Wir müssen das Geld vom Konto zurückholen.” “Sie holt sich ihre Sachen zurück.” The construction commonly appears with pronouns, e.g., “Ich hole es mir zurück.”

Nuances and related terms: zurückholen emphasizes regaining possession or bringing something back to oneself or to one’s place, often after it was lost or borrowed. In contrast, zurücknehmen means to take back something already given or to withdraw a statement, decision, or offer. The noun form die Rückholung can refer to the act of retrieval or recall, such as die Rückholung von Produkten (product recall) or die Rückholung eines Personals.

See also: wiederbeschaffen (to obtain again), rückgeholt as part of the verb form, Rückholaktion (recall campaign).