return

1 of 3

verb

re·​turn ri-ˈtərn 

returned; returning; returns

intransitive verb

1

a

: to go back or come back again

return home

b

: to go back in thought, practice, or condition : revert

2

: to pass back to an earlier possessor

3

: reply, retort

transitive verb

1

a

: to give (something, such as an official account) to a superior

b

British : to elect (a candidate) as attested by official report or returns

c

: to bring back (something, such as a writ or verdict) to an office or tribunal

2

a

: to bring, send, or put back to a former or proper place

b

: to restore to a former or to a normal state

3

a

: to send back : visit

—usually used with on or upon

b

obsolete : retort

4

: to bring in (profit) : yield

5

a

: to give or perform in return : repay

return a compliment

also : to respond to in kind

returned his calls

b

: to give back to the owner

c

: reflect

return an echo

6

: to cause (something, such as a wall) to continue in a different direction (as at a right angle)

7

: to lead (a specified suit or specified card of a suit) in response to a partner's earlier lead

8

a

: to hit back (a ball or shuttlecock)

b

: to run with (a football) after a change of possession (as by a punt or a fumble)

returner noun

return

2 of 3

noun

1

a

: the act of coming back to or from a place or condition

b

: a regular or frequent returning : recurrence

2

a(1)

: the delivery of a legal order (such as a writ) to the proper officer or court

(2)

: an endorsed certificate stating an official's action in the execution of such an order

(3)

: the sending back of a commission with the certificate of the commissioners

b

: an account or formal report

c(1)

: a report of the results of balloting

—usually used in plural

election returns

(2)

: an official declaration of the election of a candidate

(3)

chiefly British : election

d(1)

: a formal statement on a required legal form showing taxable income, allowable deductions and exemptions, and the computation of the tax due

(2)

: a list of taxable property

3

a

: the continuation usually at a right angle of the face or of a member of a building or of a molding or group of moldings

b

: a means for conveying something (such as water) back to its starting point

4

a

: a quantity of goods, consignment, or cargo coming back in exchange for goods sent out as a mercantile venture

b

: the value of or profit from such venture

c(1)

: the profit from labor, investment, or business : yield

(2)

returns plural : results

d

: the rate of profit in a process of production per unit of cost

5

a

: the act of returning something to a former place, condition, or ownership : restitution

the return of stolen goods

b

: something returned

especially, returns plural : unsold publications returned to the publisher for cash or credit

6

a

: something given in repayment or reciprocation

a return on their years of hard work

b

: answer, retort

7

: an answering play: such as

a

: a lead in a suit previously led by one's partner in a card game

b

: the action or an instance of returning a ball (as in football or tennis)

8

chiefly British : round-trip

return

3 of 3

adjective

1

a

: having or formed by a change of direction

a return facade

b

: doubled on itself

a return flue

2

a

: played, delivered, or given in return

return fire from the enemy

b

: taking place for the second time

a return meeting for the two champions

3

: used or taken on returning

the return road

4

: returning or permitting return

a return valve

5

: of, relating to, or causing a return to a place or condition

use the prestamped return envelope

Phrases

in return

: in reciprocation, compensation, or repayment

Synonyms

Verb

• replace
• restore

Noun

• answer
• comeback
• rejoinder
• replication
• reply
• response
• retort

Choose the Right Synonym for return

reciprocate, retaliate, requite, return mean to give back usually in kind or in quantity.

reciprocate implies a mutual or equivalent exchange or a paying back of what one has received.

reciprocated their hospitality by inviting them for a visit

retaliate usually implies a paying back of injury in exact kind, often vengefully.

the enemy retaliated by executing their prisoners

requite implies a paying back according to one's preference and often not equivalently.

requited her love with cold indifference

return implies a paying or giving back.

returned their call

return good for evil

Examples of return in a Sentence

Verb

We waited for you to return.

She is returning home tomorrow.

I'm leaving but will return at 2 p.m.

I have to return a book to the library.

I'm returning your ladder. Thanks for letting me borrow it.

The dishes were broken when they were delivered, so I had to return them.

I had to return the shirt and get a bigger size.

His jealousy returned when he saw his ex-wife with her new husband.

Noun

We are looking forward to your return.

We're looking forward to our return to Europe.

The team looked forward to his return to coaching.

a return to the old ways of farming

the department's return to normal

The people celebrated their leader's return to power.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Showers will continue Thursday night through the daytime on Friday before drier conditions return for the start of the weekend. —Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 11 Apr. 2024

By the time Doncic returned, Dallas was up 42-29 with 8:44 left in the second quarter. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024

On Tuesday morning, crews aboard the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Oliver Henry rescued the mariners and returned them and their outboard boat to Polowat Atoll, about 100 nautical miles from the island. —USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024

Trautman is a Sean Payton guy and got the nod to return over Manhertz. —Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 11 Apr. 2024

Series creator David Farr is also set to return as writer. —Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024

Champions are given the jacket on Sunday evening and are allowed to hold onto it until the next year's tournament, when they are required to return it to Augusta National. —Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2024

In 2017, Tony quit his job and moved to Italy, where he was inspired to return and create The Tony Cannoli. —Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 11 Apr. 2024

McArthur returns alongside Jordan Lyles and Angel Zerpa. —Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2024

Noun

Tupperware, meanwhile, is still waiting for the return of a glorious past that is never coming back. —Amanda Mull, The Atlantic, 12 Apr. 2024

You are entitled to a refund, but the merchant needs to inform the BNPL lender of the return, which could cause a delay. —Doc Louallen, ABC News, 12 Apr. 2024

Sunshine and dry weather return Saturday, with highs reaching into the 60s. —Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 12 Apr. 2024

That means about 1 in 500 tax returns are audited each year. —Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2024

Additionally, Season 12 marked the return of Taylor Kinney, who stepped away last season due to a personal matter. —Emily Longeretta, Variety, 1 Apr. 2024

Over the past 10 years, stocks by themselves delivered total returns averaging 11.6% annually, compared to 7.8% a year for the 60/40 strategy and 1.7% for bonds. —The Arizona Republic, 31 Mar. 2024

For-sale housing is certainly affected by the current financial dynamics, but the demand for home ownership is still so high that those projects may offer a better return. —Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2024

Embiid's seemingly imminent return has turned the Sixers into the NBA's biggest wild card heading into April. —Bryan Toporek, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024

Adjective

The Crew-2 astronauts, fielding questions from reporters Friday during an orbital pre-return news conference. —William Harwood, CBS News, 6 Nov. 2021

Any Jacobs: Age: Not listed on his website, and Jacobs did not return questions sent by IndyStar. —Kaitlin Lange, Indianapolis Star, 31 May 2020

Officials at Oakdale and the federal Bureau of Prisons headquarters in Washington, D.C., did not return messages Wednesday. —M.l. Elrick, Detroit Free Press, 28 May 2020

Hertz and Avis Budget Group did not return requests seeking answers to specific questions about their operations. —Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 24 May 2020

Response: Exterran did not return requests seeking comment. —Desperation Town, ProPublica, 12 May 2020

The alert recommends that visitors from out of state return home immediately. —Aubrey Wieber, Anchorage Daily News, 21 Mar. 2020

Luther’s two ex-husbands did not return interview requests. —Cassandra Jaramillo, Dallas News, 6 May 2020

An Alaska spokeswoman did not return questions in time for this story about the company’s ongoing near-term North Slope development projects such as Greater Mooses Tooth-2 and Nuna. —Elwood Brehmer, Anchorage Daily News, 17 Apr. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French returner, from re- + turner, tourner to turn — more at turn

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1676, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing return

• by return of post
• day return
• by return
• by return mail
• never to return
• on sale or return
• return address
• point of no return
• return game
• return from the dead
• return fire
• return envelope
• return someone's call
• return match
• return (someone's) fire
• return to nature
• return to
• return the favor
• safe return
• return to find
• return ticket
• return to work
• someone's return home
• pre-return
• upon/on someone's return
• on someone's return home
• (income) tax return
• in return

Kids Definition

return

1 of 3 verb

re·​turn ri-ˈtərn 

1

a

: to come or go back

b

: to go back in thought or practice

returned to his old ways

2

: reply entry 1 sense 3, answer

3

: to make an official report of

the jury returned a verdict

4

British : to elect to office

5

: to bring, carry, send, or put back

return a book to the library

return borrowed money

6

: to bring in (as profit) : yield

7

a

: to give or perform in return

return a compliment

b

: to respond to in a similar way

return kindness with kindness

c

: to give back to the owner

return that lawnmower

8

a

: to hit back (as a tennis ball)

b

: to run with (a football) after the possession of the ball changes from one team to the other (as by a fumble or a punt)

returner noun

return

2 of 3 noun

1

a

: the act of coming back to or from a place or condition

b

: a regular or frequent occurrence : recurrence

the return of spring

2

a

: a report of the results of voting

—usually used in plural

election returns

b

: a statement of income to be taxed

a tax return

3

: a means for bringing something (as water) back to its starting point

4

: the profit from labor, investment, or business : yield

5

a

: the act of returning something to an earlier place, condition, or ownership

b

: something returned

6

: something given in payment or exchange

ask nothing in return for a favor

7

: the action or an instance of returning a ball (as in tennis or football)

return

3 of 3 adjective

1

: played or given in return

a return call

a return game

2

: used for returning

a return ticket

3

: of, relating to, or causing a return to a place or condition

a return envelope

Legal Definition

return

1 of 2 transitive verb

re·​turn

1

a

: to give (an official account or report) to a superior (as by a list or statement)

return the names of all residents in the ward

return a list of jurors

b

: to bring back (as a writ, verdict, or indictment) to an office or tribunal

the sheriff must return the execution…to the proper clerk within sixty days

—J. H. Friedenthal et al.

the grand jury returned six indictments

returned a verdict of not guilty

2

: to bring in or produce (as earnings or profit) : yield

returnable adjective

return

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: the delivery of a court order (as a writ) to the proper officer or court

b

: proof of service

2

: return day

3

: an account or formal report (as of an action performed or duty discharged or of facts and statistics)

census returns

especially : a set of tabulated statistics prepared for general information

—usually used in pl.

4

a

: a report of the results of balloting

election returns

b

: an official declaration of the election of a candidate

each house shall be the judge of the elections, returns, and qualifications of its own members

—U.S. Constitution art. I

5

: a formal document executed in accordance with law on a required form showing taxable income, allowable deductions and exemptions, and the computation of the tax due

called also tax return

6

: the profit from labor, investment, or business : yield

7

: something returned

specifically : a paper (as a check or draft) calling for payment that is returned by a bank to the clearinghouse because of a defect (as lack of funds or insufficient endorsement)