return

/ri'tə:n/
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return

The tennis player practices her return against the backboard.

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.)
return

The tennis player practices her return against the backboard.

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