Learning is often identified with the acquisition, encoding, or construction of new knowledge, while retrieval is often considered only a means of assessing knowledge, not a process that contributes to learning. In this talk I provide an overview of recent research showing that active retrieval enhances learning, and I highlight ways researchers have sought to extend research on active retrieval to meaningful learning – the learning of complex educational materials as assessed on measures of inference making and knowledge application. Retrieval processes must be considered in any analysis of learning, and incorporating retrieval into educational activities represents a powerful way to enhance learning.