Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • transitive verb To recover a deleted computer file on a hard drive or other storage device.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb transitive, computing To recover (a file, record, etc.) from a deleted state.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

un- +‎ delete

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Examples

  • Concepts like "secure delete" are about making sure that the data is also actually erased, and concepts like "undelete" are about recovering the data before it's overwritten.

    Ask Leo! 2010

  • Like many Linux users, I lamented the absence of an "undelete" command.

    Public marks ghis 2010

  • I see the previous encumbents didn't realise there is an 'undelete' facility.

    Guardian Online 2010

  • Delete the photos to make the officer happy. later on "undelete" the files.

    blogTO 2010

  • I might be able to go on and build an "undelete" feature which would be handy for undo actions in slip cover.

    Planet Ubuntu noreply@blogger.com 2010

  • And if you make a mistake during the delete process, it's easier to "undelete" a photo on the PC -- just retrieve it from the Recycle Bin.

    PCWorld 2010

  • I see the previous encumbents didn't realise there is an 'undelete' facility.

    Mail & Guardian Online 2010

  • Some of the alternatives: delete the information from one's drive. (unlikely to be satisfactory, since 'undelete' programs are readily available) reformat the drive apply a specialized 'wiping' program (one or more times) destroy the drive physically encrypt the data on the drive then destroy the keys

    Slaw 2009

  • It also has good version control, allowing you to "undelete" files.

    InfoWorld RSS Feed 2008

  • It also has good version control, allowing you to "undelete" files.

    Alanat News 2008

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