comeback

1 of 2

noun

come·​back ˈkəm-ˌbak 

1

a

: a sharp or witty reply : retort

b

: a cause for complaint

2

: a return to a former position or condition (as of success or prosperity) : recovery, revival

… staging his ultimate comeback from self-imposed exile in Belgium.

—Howard Mandel

These days, the cocktail—the true cocktail—is said to be making a comeback.

—Frank H. Prial

come back

2 of 2

verb

came back; come back; coming back; comes back

intransitive verb

1

: to return to life or vitality

2

: to return to memory

It's all coming back to me now.

3

: reply, retort

When questioned, he came back with a vehement denial.

4

a

: to regain a former favorable condition or position

b

: to recover from a deficit in a contest or competition

… it was the first time in NHL history that a team was down by three goals inside the final five minutes and came back to win a game.

—Mike Harrington

Synonyms of comeback

Noun

• retort

Verb

• recover
• improve
• snap back

Examples of comeback in a Sentence

Noun

The species was nearly extinct but is now making a comeback.

Short skirts were out of fashion for many years, but now they're making a comeback.

The team was trailing after the first half, but they made a comeback and won in the second half.

The team mounted a comeback in the second half of the season.

Verb

she's slowly coming back after being in a coma

the American bald eagle was once nearly extinct but has come back strong

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Corey Seager, Nicky Lopez, and Jarred Kelenic each drove in a run in the Rangers' 22nd comeback victory of the season. — ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026

David Lowery One of America’s most original directors returned this year with this underrated movie following an aging pop diva (Anne Hathaway) who reunites with her former costume designer (Michaela Coel) to devise a look for her comeback. — Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2026

Verb

There is also romanticism around the return of Sergio Canales to Racing, with the 35-year-old former Real Madrid and Real Betis playmaker coming back to his hometown club 16 years after first leaving for the Bernabeu. — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026

The rate at which coronavirus tests are coming back positive is increasing, as are viral levels in wastewater and COVID-related hospitalizations. — Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1889, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1860, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for comeback

• almanac
• camelback
• cardiac
• carryback
• cluniac
• diamondback
• lumberjack
• maniac
• paperback
• piggyback
• quarterback
• saddleback

Kids Definition

comeback

noun

come·​back ˈkəm-ˌbak 

1

: retort entry 2

2

: a return to a former position or condition (as of health, power, popularity, or prosperity) : recovery