comeback

[ kuhm-bak ]

/ ˈkʌmˌbæk /

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See synonyms for comeback on Thesaurus.com

noun

a return to a former higher rank, popularity, position, prosperity, etc.: The ex-champion kept trying to make a comeback.

a clever or effective retort; rejoinder; riposte: That was a great comeback the comedian made to the hecklers.

Informal. a basis or cause of complaint: If you insist on buying these pointed shoes, you'll have no comeback when your toes start to hurt.

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Origin of comeback

First recorded in 1815–25; noun use of verb phrase come back

Words nearby comeback

come apart at the seams, come around, come at, come-at-able, come away, comeback, come between, come by, come clean, COMECON, comedian

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use comeback in a sentence

The Washington Nationals are no strangers to long-shot comeback bids.
The Nationals Are Running Out Of Time|Neil Paine (neil.paine@fivethirtyeight.com)|September 11, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Now, thanks to Covid-19, the custom appears poised to make at least a modest comeback, according to three transportation companies that spoke to Quartz.
Carpooling is poised to make a comeback this fall|Lila MacLellan|September 9, 2020|Quartz
It’s not often that a 19th century old technology makes a comeback.
Vinyl sales rock on in spite of Covid-19|Dan Kopf|August 21, 2020|Quartz
Free throws, which had been steadily dropping in the 3-point era, made a comeback.
Why Have NBA Offenses Been So Good In The Bubble?|Mike Prada|August 20, 2020|FiveThirtyEight

Colleges and universities have constantly shifted their comeback plans, but at this point about 25 percent plan to be mostly online, 21 percent primarily in person, 15 percent taking a hybrid approach … and 27 percent TBD.
Is School Out Forever?|Daniel Malloy|August 9, 2020|Ozy
The Comeback was, without question, one of the year's best and funniest comedies.
‘The Comeback’ Finale: Give Lisa Kudrow All of the Awards|Kevin Fallon|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We might have thought The Comeback was about a desperate actress's shameless struggle for fame.
‘The Comeback’ Finale: Give Lisa Kudrow All of the Awards|Kevin Fallon|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If laughter is the best medicine, The Comeback made you feel enough pain to need a dose—and then it delivered in spades.
‘The Comeback’ Finale: Give Lisa Kudrow All of the Awards|Kevin Fallon|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When you think about all of that, the success of this Comeback run is all the more impressive.
‘The Comeback’ Finale: Give Lisa Kudrow All of the Awards|Kevin Fallon|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It's been nine years that fans of The Comeback have been clamoring for HBO to "give her another take."
‘The Comeback’ Finale: Give Lisa Kudrow All of the Awards|Kevin Fallon|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Now, with every chance for a comeback, Nan wanted me to pass!
The Scapegoat|Richard Maples
Fergus made an extremely poor showing on Memorial Day, and the manager thinks this odd bull would provide a real comeback!
Thy Rocks and Rills|Robert Ernest Gilbert
The only American comeback to this growing prejudice is to build factories or assembling plants within the British Isles.
The War After the War|Isaac Frederick Marcosson
Old Jim Lough is cautious and reliable, but he's set the date of the comeback too far off.
David Lannarck, Midget|George S. Harney
I gawps curious over at J. Bayard to see what comeback he has to this dose of mush, and finds him starin' foolish at her.
Shorty McCabe on the Job|Sewell Ford

British Dictionary definitions for comeback

comeback

/ (ˈkʌmˌbæk) /

noun informal

a return to a former position, status, etc

a return or response, esp recriminatory

a quick reply; retort

verb come back (intr, adverb)

to return

to become fashionable again

to reply after a period of considerationI'll come back to you on that next week

US and Canadian to argue back; retort

come back to someone (of something forgotten) to return to someone's memory

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with comeback

come back

Return to or regain past success or popularity, as in It's hard to come back from two sets down and win the match, or Long hemlines are coming back this fall. [Early 1900s]

Return to one's mind, as in Her name came back to me after I saw her picture. [Late 1800s]

Retort or reply; also, retaliate. For example, No matter how many insults he flings, I can always come back with another. [Late 1800s]

comeback

Origin of comeback

Words nearby comeback

Words related to comeback

How to use comeback in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for comeback

Other Idioms and Phrases with comeback