return

1 something spoken or written in reaction especially to a question I was moved by my grandfather's lengthy return to my casual question about his experiences in the Vietnam War Synonyms of return comeback, rejoinder, replication, reply, response, retort, answerWords Related to return back talk, banter, persiflage, repartee; acknowledgment (or acknowledgement), comment, communication, correspondence, feedback, non sequitur, observation, reaction, remark; defense, explanation, justification, plea, rebuttal, refutationNear Antonyms of return challenge, charge, cross-examination, grilling, interrogation, interrogatory, quiz; poll, questionnaire, surveyAntonyms of return inquiry, query, question

2 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 Synonyms of return earnings, gain(s), incoming(s), proceeds, profit, income, revenue, yieldWords Related to return killing, windfall; salary, take-home pay, tips, wages; bankroll, capital, coffers, exchequer, finances, funds, money, pocket, pocketbook, resources, wherewithalNear Antonyms of return charge, cost, disbursement, expenditures, expenses, outgo, outlay

3 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 Synonyms of return earnings, gain, lucre, net, payoff, proceeds, profitWords Related to return cleanup, killing, windfall; bottom line; gross, sales; compensation, emolument, income, pay, payment, remittal, requital, salary, wages; interest, profit, revenue, yieldNear Antonyms of return charge, cost, disbursement, expenditure, expense, loss, outgo, outlay

1 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 Synonyms of return replace, restore Words Related to return reconvey Near Antonyms of return remove, take

2 to produce as revenue this technology stock is expected to return a healthy profit Synonyms of return bear, give, pay, yieldWords Related to return bring in, net; afford, furnish, provide, supply; pay off

3 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 Synonyms of return come back, rejoin, reply, respond, retort, answer, riposteWords Related to return acknowledge, comment, communicate, correspond, react, remark; counter, defend, deny, explain, field, rebut, refuteNear Antonyms of return challenge, cross-examine, examine, grill, interrogate, pump, quiz; poll, query, surveyAntonyms of return ask, inquire, question

4 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 Synonyms of return retrogress, regress, revertWords Related to return backslide, lapse, relapse; throw back; ebb; decline, degenerate, drop, fall, retrograde, worsenNear Antonyms of return grow, mature, ripenAntonyms of return advance, develop, evolve, progress