return
Noun:
- The act of coming or going back to a place or condition: The act of someone or something going back to a previous location or state.
- A recurrence: Something that happens again, especially at regular intervals.
- A profit or gain from an investment or transaction: The income or yield arising from a financial venture.
- An official report or statement: A document submitted to an authority, especially concerning taxes or election results.
- A reply or response: An answer given to a question or remark.
- The act of sending, giving, or putting something back: The act of restoring something to its original place or owner.
- In sports, the act of hitting or running a ball back: The act of sending a ball back to an opponent in games like tennis or football.
Verb:
- To go or come back to a place, activity, or condition: To go back to a previous location, state, or activity.
- To give, send, or put something back: To restore something to its original place, owner, or condition.
- To yield or produce as a profit or result: To provide a gain or output.
- To say or write something in reply; to answer: To respond to a question, remark, or action.
- To elect or appoint someone again: To choose someone for a position for another term.
- To render a formal verdict or judgment: To deliver an official decision in a legal context.
Noun:
- We look forward to your return from vacation. (We look forward to you coming back from vacation.)
- The return of spring brings warmer weather. (The coming back of spring brings warmer weather.)
- The investment showed a high return. (The investment yielded a high profit.)
- I need to file my tax return. (I need to submit my tax report.)
- She gave a sharp return to his criticism. (She gave a sharp reply to his criticism.)
Verb:
- She will return to her office after lunch. (She will go back to her office after lunch.)
- Please return the book to the library. (Please give the book back to the library.)
- The business returns a good profit each year. (The business yields a good profit each year.)
- "I'm fine," he returned quickly. ("I'm fine," he answered quickly.)
- The committee returned her as chairperson. (The committee elected her again as chairperson.)
- The jury returned a verdict of not guilty. (The jury delivered a verdict of not guilty.)
In return (for something): As an exchange or payment for something.
- He helped me, and in return, I offered him my assistance. (He helped me, and as an exchange, I offered him my help.)
Many happy returns (of the day): A phrase used to wish someone a happy birthday and many more in the future.
- Happy birthday! Many happy returns! (Happy birthday! I wish you many more happy birthdays!)
Point of no return: A critical point where one must continue with a course of action because turning back is no longer possible.
- After signing the contract, we had passed the point of no return. (After signing, we could no longer go back on our decision.)
Returnable (adj): Capable of being returned, especially for a refund or exchange.
- The bottle is returnable for a deposit. (The bottle can be given back for a deposit.)
Returnee (n): A person who returns to a place, especially their home country after a long absence.
- The organization helps returnees reintegrate into society. (The organization helps people coming back to reintegrate.)
- Come back / Go back (v): To move back to a previous place.
- Restore / Give back (v): To give something back to its owner.
- Reply / Respond (v): To say or do something as an answer.
- Yield / Profit (n): The financial gain from an investment.
- Recurrence (n): The fact of something happening again.
Return to: To go back to a subject, activity, or place.
- Let's return to the main topic of discussion. (Let's go back to the main topic.)
Return with: To come back bringing something.
- He returned with news from the city. (He came back bringing news from the city.)
Return the compliment: To do something nice for someone who has done something nice for you.
- She invited me to dinner, so I returned the compliment by inviting her to a concert. (I invited her back as a polite response.)
Return fire: To shoot back at someone who is shooting at you; figuratively, to respond to an attack or criticism.
- The politician was quick to return fire during the debate. (The politician quickly responded to the criticism during the debate.)
- the act of someone appearing again
- his reappearance as Hamlet has been long awaited
- (American football) the act of running back the ball after a kickoff or punt or interception or fumble
- a tennis stroke that sends the ball back to the other player
- he won the point on a cross-court return
- a reciprocal group action
- in return we gave them as good as we got
- the key on electric typewriters or computer keyboards that causes a carriage return and a line feed
- a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)
- it brought a sharp rejoinder from the teacher
- happening again (especially at regular intervals)
- the return of spring
- the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property
- the average return was about 5%
- the act of going back to a prior location
- they set out on their return to the base camp
- getting something back again
- upon the restitution of the book to its rightful owner the child was given a tongue lashing
- the occurrence of a change in direction back in the opposite direction
- a coming to or returning home
- on his return from Australia we gave him a welcoming party
- document giving the tax collector information about the taxpayer's tax liability
- his gross income was enough that he had to file a tax return
- submit (a report, etc.) to someone in authority
- submit a bill to a legislative body
- give or supply
- The cow brings in 5 liters of milk
- This year's crop yielded 1,000 bushels of corn
- The estate renders some revenue for the family
- return to a previous position; in mathematics
- The point returned to the interior of the figure
- be inherited by
- The estate fell to my sister
- The land returned to the family
- The estate devolved to an heir that everybody had assumed to be dead
- elect again
- pass down
- render a verdict
- deliver a judgment
- pay back
- Please refund me my money
- be restored
- Her old vigor returned
- answer back
- make a return
- return a kickback
- return in kind
- return a compliment
- return her love
- bring back to the point of departure
- go back to something earlier
- This harks back to a previous remark of his
- go back to a previous state
- We reverted to the old rules
- give back
- render money
- go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
- return to your native land
- the professor returned to his teaching position after serving as Dean