comeback

noun come·back \ ˈkəm-ˌbak \

Definition of comeback

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
—Howard Mandel

See comeback defined for English-language learners

See comeback defined for kids

Examples of comeback in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of comeback from the Web

Still, as chaotic as Cleveland’s quarterbacks carousel has been, the only time the Browns finished last in passing yards since their comeback was 2009.

— john smallwood, Philly.com, "Sports Tonight: Brownies adding to two baker's dozens," 21 Aug. 2017
Anytime Chloe makes a bitchy comeback or comment to/about another girl.

— mark shrayber, Cosmopolitan, "6 Sarasota Residents Say What They Really Think About Siesta Key," 18 Aug. 2017
The 44-year-old Forest Hill resident, making a comeback two decades after his collegiate running at the University of Connecticut, led the 40-49 age group by 30 seconds in 19:13.

— bill blewett, The Aegis, "Record field ran for wins, wine at Boordy Vineyards," 17 Aug. 2017
A walk-off wild pitch spoiled a Cincinnati comeback, as the Cincinnati Reds fell 7-6 to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday at Wrigley Field.

— zach buchanan, Cincinnati.com, "Reds Recap: Cincinnati falls on walk-off wild pitch again," 16 Aug. 2017
Olivier Giroud completed an exhilarating comeback as host Arsenal beat Leicester, 4-3, on Friday to ensure Arsène Wenger’s team opened the Premier League season with a victory for only the second time in eight years.

— the associated press, New York Times, "Arsenal Tops Leicester City in Premier League Opener," 11 Aug. 2017
When HGTV personality Nicole Curtis announced on Facebook earlier this year that an eighth season of her show, Rehab Addict, was in the works, thousands of fans welcomed the comeback news.

— maria carter, Country Living, "'Rehab Addict' Is Returning to TV This Fall, Nicole Curtis Confirms," 11 Aug. 2017
But make no mistake: Brasseries are making a comeback in the City of Light.

— alec lobrano, Bon Appetit, "6 Paris Brasseries to Park at (and Drink Wine) All Afternoon," 9 Aug. 2017
The show, which will premiere next year, is just the latest instance of TV and comedy greats making their comebacks on cable and streaming networks.

— megan friedman, Esquire, "David Letterman Is Returning to Television," 8 Aug. 2017

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.