return
rih-TURN
Return (verb) means to come or go back to a place, or to give something back to its owner. Example: “She returned to her hometown after ten years abroad.”
verb
1
To come or go back to a place, or to give something back to its owner.
"She returned to her hometown after ten years abroad."
"He returned the borrowed book the next day."
"The birds return to this lake every spring, once the ice has melted."
2
To take an item back to a shop for a refund or exchange.
"I need to return these shoes — they don't fit."
"He had to return the broken kettle, and the shop gave him his money back."
"If the jumper is too small, you can return it within a month."
noun
1
The act of coming back, or of giving something back.
"His return to the team was celebrated by fans."
"They processed the return within a week."
"The return of the library books was recorded at the front desk."
2
The profit or loss made on an investment.
"The fund promised a steady annual return of 5%."
"Safe savings usually offer a lower return than riskier shares."
"Investors were disappointed by the poor return on their property."
3
A form submitted to the government reporting income for tax purposes.
"She filed her tax return just before the deadline."
"You must send your tax return to the authorities every year."
"He asked an accountant to check his tax return for mistakes."
How to use return
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGoing or giving something back, or (in finance) the profit made on money invested.
Common pairings
return a favour
return on investment
tax return
point of no return
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Word forms
- Plural
- returns
- Third person singular
- returns
- Past tense
- returned
- Archaic forms
- returnest, returnedst, returneth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She _____ to her hometown after ten years abroad.
Etymology
From Old French retourner, "to turn back," from re- + tornare ("to turn").
Synonyms
View more →
come back
go back
send back
hand back
take back
restitution
comeback
issue
proceeds
reappearance
recurrence
replication
Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “return” mean?
The word “return” means to come or go back to a place, or to give something back to its owner. In plain terms, going or giving something back, or (in finance) the profit made on money invested.
How do you pronounce “return”?
“Return” is pronounced rih-TURN (/ɹɪˈtɝn/ in IPA).
How do you use “return” in a sentence?
Here is “return” used in a sentence: “She returned to her hometown after ten years abroad.”
What is another word for “return”?
Words with a similar meaning to “return” include revend, give back, reinstate, render, restore and revest.
What is the opposite of “return”?
The opposite of “return” — its antonyms — is take.
What part of speech is “return”?
Depending on how it is used, “return” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “return” come from?
The word “return” comes from Old French. From Old French retourner, "to turn back," from re- + tornare ("to turn").
Is “return” a common word?
“Return” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between return and refund?
To return something is to give it back — you physically hand the item to its owner or send it back to a shop. A refund is the money paid back to you when you return a purchase. You return the goods; the seller issues the refund. One is the action, the other the reimbursement.
What are the different meanings of return?
Return has several senses. It can mean to come back to a place, as in returning home. It can mean to give something back to its owner. In finance, a return is the profit made on an investment. In sport and computing it has further uses. The common thread is something going or coming back.
What is the opposite of return?
The opposite depends on the sense. When return means to come back, the opposites are leave, depart, or go. When it means to give something back, the opposite is to keep, take, or borrow. In every case, return implies a reversal — moving or handing something back to where it started.
What is an example of return in a sentence?
You can say 'I return to work on Monday' to mean coming back to a place, or 'Please return the book you borrowed' to mean giving something back. Both are everyday uses. The verb often pairs with 'to' for places and takes a direct object when handing items back to someone.
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