return

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.

“Return” is pronounced rih-TURN (/ɹɪˈtɝn/ in IPA).

Here is “return” used in a sentence: “She returned to her hometown after ten years abroad.”

Words with a similar meaning to “return” include revend, give back, reinstate, render, restore and revest.

The opposite of “return” — its antonyms — is take.

Depending on how it is used, “return” can be a verb and a noun.

The word “return” comes from Old French. From Old French retourner, "to turn back," from re- + tornare ("to turn").

“Return” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

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.

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.

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.

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.