Definition

1. 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.

2. 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.

Examples

• 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.)

Advanced Usage

• 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.)

Variants and Related Words

• 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.)

Synonyms

• 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.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• 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.)

Related Idioms

• 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.)

Noun

1. the act of someone appearing again
   • his reappearance as Hamlet has been long awaited
2. (American football) the act of running back the ball after a kickoff or punt or interception or fumble
3. a tennis stroke that sends the ball back to the other player
   • he won the point on a cross-court return
4. a reciprocal group action
   • in return we gave them as good as we got
5. the key on electric typewriters or computer keyboards that causes a carriage return and a line feed
6. a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)
   • it brought a sharp rejoinder from the teacher
7. happening again (especially at regular intervals)
   • the return of spring
8. the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property
   • the average return was about 5%
9. the act of going back to a prior location
   • they set out on their return to the base camp
10. getting something back again
    • upon the restitution of the book to its rightful owner the child was given a tongue lashing
11. the occurrence of a change in direction back in the opposite direction
12. a coming to or returning home
    • on his return from Australia we gave him a welcoming party
13. 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

Verb

1. submit (a report, etc.) to someone in authority
   • submit a bill to a legislative body
2. 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
3. return to a previous position; in mathematics
   • The point returned to the interior of the figure
4. 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
5. elect again
6. pass down
   • render a verdict
   • deliver a judgment
7. pay back
   • Please refund me my money
8. be restored
   • Her old vigor returned
9. answer back
10. make a return
    • return a kickback
11. return in kind
    • return a compliment
    • return her love
12. bring back to the point of departure
13. go back to something earlier
    • This harks back to a previous remark of his
14. go back to a previous state
    • We reverted to the old rules
15. give back
    • render money
16. 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