return

[ ri-turn ]

verb (used without object)

1. to go or come back, as to a former place, position, or state: to return to public office;

   to return from abroad;

   to return to public office;

   to return to work.

2. to revert to a former owner:

   The money I gave him returns to me in the event of his death.

3. to revert or recur, as in thought, discourse, etc.:

   He returned to his story.

4. to make a reply or retort:

   She returned with a witty sally.

   Synonyms: respond, reply, rejoin, answer

verb (used with object)

1. to put, bring, take, give, or send back to the original place, position, etc.: to return a child to her mother;

   to return a book to a shelf;

   to return a child to her mother;

   to return the switch to off position.

   Synonyms: restore, replace

2. to send or give back in reciprocation, recompense, or requital:

   to return evil for good.

   Synonyms: exchange

3. to reciprocate, repay, or react to (something sent, given, done, etc.) with something similar: to return a favor.

   to return the enemy's fire;

   to return a favor.

4. Law.
   1. to give to a judge or official (a statement or a writ of actions done).
   2. to render (a verdict, decision, etc.).
5. to reflect (light, sound, etc.).
6. to yield (a profit, revenue, etc.), as in return for labor, expenditure, or investment.

   Synonyms: clear, yield, pay, earn, pay out

7. to report or announce officially:

   to return a list of members.

8. to elect, as to a legislative body:

   The voters returned him to office by a landslide.

9. Military. to put (a weapon) back into its holder.
10. Cards. to respond to (a suit led) by a similar lead:

    She returned diamonds.

11. to turn back or in the reverse direction, as a served ball in tennis.
12. Chiefly Architecture. to cause to turn or proceed in a different direction from the previous line of direction; reverse:

    to return a cornice at each end of a façade.

noun

1. the act or fact of returning as by going or coming back or bringing, sending, or giving back:

   the return of the Jews from the Diaspora;

   We should appreciate your return of the book immediately.

2. a recurrence:

   the return of the moon each month.

3. reciprocation, repayment, or requital:

   profits in return for outlay.

4. response or reply.
5. a person or thing that is returned:

   returns of mill goods.

6. the gain realized on an exchange of goods.
7. Often returns. a yield or profit, as from labor, land, business, or investment:

   He received a quick return on his money.

   Synonyms: income, revenue

8. tax return ( def ).
9. Usually returns. an official or unofficial report on a count of votes, candidates elected, etc.:

   election returns.

10. Chiefly British. return ticket ( def 2 ).
11. Architecture.
    1. the continuation of a molding, projection, etc., in a different direction.
    2. a side or part that falls away from the front of any straight or flat member or area.
12. a tablelike extension attached at a right angle to a desk at typing height, for holding a typewriter, computer, etc.
13. a key or lever on a typewriter or other business machine that returns the carriage to the extreme right, or the typing element to the extreme left, for the beginning of a new line.
14. Computers. carriage return2
15. Sports.
    1. the act of returning a ball.
    2. the ball that is returned.
16. Football. a runback of a kick, intercepted pass, or fumble recovery.
17. Economics. yield per unit as compared to the cost per unit involved in a specific industrial process.
18. Law.
    1. the bringing or sending back of various documents, such as a writ, summons, or subpoena, with a brief written report usually endorsed upon it, by a sheriff, to the court from which it issued.
    2. a certified document by a great variety of officers, as assessors, collectors, and election officers.
    3. the report or certificate endorsed in such documents.
19. Cards. a lead that responds to a partner's lead.
20. Theater. a flat or drapery parallel to the tormentor for masking the offstage area and often completing the downstage part of a set.
21. returns,
    1. merchandise shipped back to a supplier from a retailer or distributor as unsold or unsalable.
    2. merchandise returned to a retailer by a consumer.

adjective

1. of or relating to a return or returning:

   a return trip.

2. sent, given, or done in return:

   a return shot.

3. done or occurring again:

   a return engagement of the opera.

4. noting a person or thing that is returned or returning to a place:

   return cargo.

5. changing in direction; doubling or returning on itself:

   a return twist in a road.

6. used for returning, recirculating, etc.: a return pipe.

   the return road;

   a return pipe.

7. (of a game) played in order to provide the loser of an earlier game with the opportunity to win from the same opponent:

   return match.

8. adequate, necessary, or provided to enable the return of a mailed package or letter to its sender: return address;

   return postage guaranteed;

   return address;

   return envelope.

return

/ rɪˈtɜːn /

verb

1. intr to come back to a former place or state
2. tr to give, take, or carry back; replace or restore
3. tr to repay or recompense, esp with something of equivalent value

   return the compliment

4. tr to earn or yield (profit or interest) as an income from an investment or venture
5. intr to come back or revert in thought or speech

   I'll return to that later

6. intr to recur or reappear

   the symptoms have returned

7. to answer or reply
8. tr to vote into office; elect
9. tr law (of a jury) to deliver or render (a verdict)
10. tr to send back or reflect (light or sound)

    the canyon returned my shout

11. tr to submit (a report, etc) about (someone or something) to someone in authority
12. tr cards to lead back (the suit led by one's partner)
13. tr ball games to hit, throw, or play (a ball) back
14. tr architect to turn (a part, decorative moulding, etc) away from its original direction
15. return thanks
    (of Christians) to say grace before a meal

noun

1. the act or an instance of coming back
2. something that is given or sent back, esp unsatisfactory merchandise returned to the maker or supplier or a theatre ticket sent back by a purchaser for resale
3. the act or an instance of putting, sending, or carrying back; replacement or restoration
4. often plural the yield, revenue, or profit accruing from an investment, transaction, or venture
5. the act or an instance of reciprocation or repayment (esp in the phrase in return for )
6. a recurrence or reappearance
7. an official report, esp of the financial condition of a company
8. 1. a form (a tax return ) on which a statement concerning one's taxable income is made
   2. the statement itself
9. often plural a statement of the votes counted at an election or poll
10. an answer or reply
11. short for return ticket
12. informal.
    a second helping of food served at a table
13. architect
    1. a part of a building that forms an angle with the façade
    2. any part of an architectural feature that forms an angle with the main part
14. law a report by a bailiff or other officer on the outcome of a formal document such as a claim, summons, etc, issued by a court
15. cards a lead of a card in the suit that one's partner has previously led
16. ball games the act of playing or throwing a ball back
17. by return or by return of post
    by the next post back to the sender
18. many happy returns or many happy returns of the day
    a conventional greeting to someone on his or her birthday
19. the point of no return
    the point at which a person's commitment is irrevocable

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characterized by a return

   a return visit

   a return performance

2. denoting a second, reciprocated occasion

   a return match

Other Words From

• non·re·turn adjective
• pre·re·turn noun verb (used without object)
• un·re·turned adjective
• un·re·turn·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of return¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; (verb) Middle English retornen, from Middle French retorner, returner, Old French ( re-, turn ); (noun) Middle English, from Anglo-French retorn, return, derivative of Old French retorner, returner; (adjective) derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of return¹

C14: from Old French retorner ; see re- , turn

Idioms and Phrases

• in return
• many happy returns
• point of no return

Example Sentences

So if the midterm elections are an improvement over the most recent one, you can return to America after the next two years.

From Salon

But a lot of that stuff is just GOP orthodoxy now, with Project 2025 calling to scrap the DOE, sap the Fed’s powers, and return this country to the gold standard.

From Slate

Sir David says he expects “absolute transparency” about what students are getting in return for fees, whether on contact hours or important services such as mental health support.

From BBC

She had been told that if the role with Salah did not suit her, she could return to Harrods.

From BBC

The purchase of the Grand Prix of Long Beach, the second-largest street race in the world behind only the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Monte Carlo, also marks Penske’s return to Southern California racing at a time when the sport appears to be in retrenchment.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• compensation
• gain
• income
• interest
• profit
• revenue
• yield