Say it like this
- Let's retry the request with exponential backoff
- The system will automatically retry failed operations
- We should implement a retry policy for this endpoint
Use it at work
Code
- Let's add a retry with backoff.
- The job retries three times before failing.
Debugging
- The retries are making the outage worse.
- It failed, so let me retry the build.
Design
- Is this safe to retry? Is it idempotent?
- Add jitter to the retries.
Don't say this
Retry typically refers to automatic mechanisms in code, not manual human attempts. Use try again for manual repetition.
Don't mix it up
| Term | What it is | Who writes or uses it | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| retry | Try a failed call again | Developers | After failures |
| timeout | Stop waiting after a set time | Developers | Slow calls |
| circuit breaker | Stop calling a failing service | Developers | Repeated failures |
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. Your database connection times out. What would a tech professional most likely say?
2. Our API gateway is configured to _______ failed requests up to three times before returning an error.
3. Which sentence uses retry incorrectly?
4. Rewrite this in natural tech English using retry: 'When the server does not respond, the program will try the request again several times.'
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 3
"Let's retry the request with exponential backoff"
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More about retry
Real examples(3)
- in a standup
"The deployment failed yesterday, but we have retry logic enabled, so it will automatically attempt again."
- in a code review
"Good catch—we should add a maximum retry limit to prevent infinite loops."
- in a team meeting
"Network timeouts are happening; we need to increase the retry count for the third-party API integration."
More mistakes(2)
Handle with care. Do not confuse with try again in casual contexts; retry implies a programmatic or automatic repetition mechanism, not just human effort to repeat an action.
- ✕The user should retry their password.✓The user should try a different password or request a password reset.
Retry is not typically used for user-facing actions like password entry; it is reserved for system-level operations.
- ✕I will retry fixing this bug tomorrow.✓I will try to fix this bug tomorrow or attempt to fix this bug again tomorrow.
Retry in tech specifically means automatic repetition of a failed operation, not a future human attempt to resolve something.
Other forms(6)
- retry verb
"The system will retry the connection in 10 seconds."
- retries verb
"The API retries failed requests automatically."
- retried verb
"The payment was retried after the network issue was resolved."
- retry noun
"We implemented a retry mechanism with exponential backoff."
- retries noun
"The system allows three retries before giving up."
- retryable adjective
"Is a 503 error retryable?"
Often used with(6)
- retry logic · The programming mechanism or strategy that defines how and when retries occur
- retry attempt · A single repetition of a failed operation
- retry count · The number of times a system will retry before failing permanently
- retry delay · The time waited between retry attempts
- exponential backoff retry · A retry strategy where the delay increases exponentially with each attempt
- automatic retry · A retry that happens without manual intervention
Similar words(2)
- reattempt · More formal alternative; less common in everyday tech conversations
- retry attempt · Emphasizes the single action rather than the mechanism
Opposites(3)
- fail
- abort
- give up
Questions(8)
- What does retry mean in programming?
- In programming, a retry repeats a failed operation, like an API call or database query, in case the problem was temporary. Good retry logic waits between attempts and stops after a limit.
- What is a retry with exponential backoff?
- It is a retry where the wait doubles after each failure: 1 second, then 2, then 4, and so on. This gives an overloaded service time to recover.
- Is it "retry" or "re-try"?
- "Retry" is the standard spelling, both as a verb ("retry the request") and a noun ("three retries").
- What does retry mean in software engineering?
- Retry refers to automatically repeating a failed operation or request. In software systems, retry logic allows applications to recover from temporary failures like network timeouts or service unavailability by attempting the operation again after a delay.
- How do you use retry in a sentence at work?
- You can say: 'The API will retry the request if it fails the first time' or 'We need to configure retry logic for database connections.' It is used as both a verb (to retry) and a noun (retry mechanism).
- Is retry formal or informal?
- Retry is neutral in formality. It is the standard technical term used in all settings—code, meetings, documentation, and interviews. It is neither overly casual nor unnecessarily formal.
- What is the difference between retry and try again?
- Retry typically refers to automatic, programmatic repetition built into a system. Try again is more general and often refers to human effort to repeat an action. In tech, retry is used for system-level mechanisms.
- Why is retry logic important?
- Retry logic is essential for building resilient systems. It helps applications recover from temporary failures without crashing or requiring manual intervention, improving reliability and user experience.
