comeback

noun

come·back | \ ˈkəm-ˌbak

Definition of comeback

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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— Howard Mandel

come back

verb

came back; come back; coming back; comes back

Definition of come back (Entry 2 of 2)

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

4a : 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 More Example Sentences Learn More about comeback

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Synonyms for comeback

Synonyms: Noun

repartee, retort, riposte

Synonyms: Verb

convalesce, gain, heal, mend, pull round [chiefly British], rally, recoup, recover, recuperate, 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

Some details—from the Star Wars universe and our universe—would suggest a comeback could be possible. — Adam Schubak, Popular Mechanics, "Everything We Know So Far About 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker'," 12 Apr. 2019 Hawaiian shirts have been slowly making a comeback for years, but as of recent the trend has really been taking off. — Charlotte Chilton, Town & Country, "10 Outfits Every Man Should Wear This Summer," 18 Apr. 2019 Luke also won't be the only Skywalker making a comeback. — Adam Schubak, Popular Mechanics, "Everything We Know So Far About 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker'," 12 Apr. 2019 As The Hollywood Reporter explains, the new posters have characters making a comeback for the film displayed in full color, and those have that passed are featured in black and white. — Lauren Rearick, Teen Vogue, "New "Avengers: End Game" Posters Are Being Turned Into Viral Memes," 27 Mar. 2019 On a much more positive note, Randall's campaign manager Jae-won Yoo (played by Tim Jo) will be making a comeback. — Kayla Keegan, Good Housekeeping, "'This Is Us' Season 4 Sounds Like It's Going to Be a REALLY Hard One for Fans," 19 Mar. 2019 But as usual, Nadal has found a way to make a comeback. — Tom Perrotta, WSJ, "Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal Set for Another Australian Open Showdown," 25 Jan. 2019 In the wake of the devastation of Hurricane Maria, this destination once frequented by U.S. travelers for its abundance of culture, diversity of landscape, and luxury hotels is making a comeback. — Carrie Goldberg, Harper's BAZAAR, "The 19 Best Places to Travel in 2019," 10 Jan. 2019 The Blue Jays lack consistency and have had to rely on several fourth-quarter comebacks. — Mike Preston, baltimoresun.com, "Preston: Marr vs. Marr in the NCAA men's lacrosse championship game? Don't count it out," 18 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'comeback.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.