return 1 of 2

1
as in to restore
to bring, send, or put back to a former or proper place when I'm done reading a book, I always return it to the very shelf I got it from

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to yield
to produce as revenue this technology stock is expected to return a healthy profit

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3
as in to respond
to speak or write in reaction to a question or to another reaction when I asked him to sit down to dinner, he returned that he would come when he was good and ready

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
as in to revert
to go back to a previous and usually lower state or level vowed to do anything to keep the recovering alcoholic from returning to his dissolute ways

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

return

2 of 2

noun

1
2
as in revenue
an increase usually measured in money that comes from labor, business, or property if we buy better equipment, we'll be able to make the product faster, thus getting a better return on our investment

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in proceeds
the amount of money left when expenses are subtracted from the total amount received the return on each unit sold has increased since we streamlined the production process

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb return contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of return are reciprocate, requite, and retaliate. While all these words mean "to give back usually in kind or in quantity," return implies a paying or giving back.

returned their call
return good for evil

In what contexts can reciprocate take the place of return?

Although the words reciprocate and return have much in common, 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

When is requite a more appropriate choice than return?

In some situations, the words requite and return are roughly equivalent. However, requite implies a paying back according to one's preference and often not equivalently.

requited her love with cold indifference

When is it sensible to use retaliate instead of return?

The synonyms retaliate and return are sometimes interchangeable, but retaliate usually implies a paying back of injury in exact kind, often vengefully.

the enemy retaliated by executing their prisoners

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of return
Verb
Not pictured, but also returning, are Austin North and Fiona Palomo. Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 20 June 2025 Every garden needs both annuals for instant impact and perennials for color that returns for many years. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 20 June 2025
Noun
As the team packed their bags on Friday for Sunday’s matchup against the Seattle Storm, there was no clear timeline for Jones’ return. Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 21 June 2025 Trump decried the Obama-era deal for giving Iran too much in return for too little, because the agreement did not cover Iran’s non-nuclear malign behavior. Aamer Madhani, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for return
Recent Examples of Synonyms for return
Verb
  • From restoring elasticity to quenching dryness and nourishing the skin with essential vitamins and minerals, the best body oils can make everything below the neck supple, satiny, and ready to shine.
    Jenny Berg, Vogue, 28 June 2025
  • In crucial moments, alumni voices can restore the reputation of their respective alma maters.
    Avi D. Gordon, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • One reason the Twins were so down and out was a heinous 17-game stretch by the pitching staff, which yielded nine runs eight times.
    Dan Hayes, New York Times, 27 June 2025
  • This was because the size of the area under illicit coca bush cultivation in Colombia had yielded 50 percent more product than the previous year.
    Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not respond to a request for comment.
    Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 18 June 2025
  • The spokesperson for Silicon Ranch did not respond to follow-up requests for comment over the land deal.
    Lucas Dufalla, Arkansas Online, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • His demands include asking the company to revert back to open-source and an injunction to prevent OpenAI execs from profiting from AGI.
    Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 24 June 2025
  • During President Donald Trump's second presidency, his administration has designated English as the national language, removed hundreds of books from military libraries that are about race relations and LGBTQ+ history in the United States, and reverted military bases to their Confederate names.
    Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025
Noun
  • Some critics accused Trump of causing chaos with ICE raids, then using the community response to justify even harsher measures.
    Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 22 June 2025
  • Lawmakers divided, some raise constitutionality concerns The immediate response from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle pointed to the deep divisions over whether the U.S. should enter a new war in the Middle East.
    Colin Meyn, The Hill, 22 June 2025
Noun
  • The Knicks are coming off their best season in 25 years, and off the court, revenues soared to record highs.
    Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 25 June 2025
  • Troy Lester, co-founder and chief revenue officer at Warp, said refining the technology behind Warp will help the company enable repeat positive experiences for customers.
    Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • And the companies that pay attention will reap the benefits.
    Yola Robert, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
  • The cost of the wedding has been estimated at up to nearly $50M, infuriating locals and activists who claim Amazon pays minimal taxes in European countries and point to Bezos’ use of his extreme personal wealth to effectively take over parts of the historic city, disrupting daily life.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • The Lake County Sheriff’s Office, which made the arrest and controls the jail, and the Office of Statewide Prosecution, which is overseeing Lopez’s prosecution, did not reply to messages seeking comment.
    Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 June 2025
  • Howell’s lawyer did not reply to requests for comment.
    Evan Drellich, New York Times, 22 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Return.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/return. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

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