return

[ ri-turn ]

/ rɪˈtɜrn /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR return ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object)

to go or come back, as to a former place, position, or state: to return from abroad; to return to public office; to return to work.

to revert to a former owner: The money I gave him returns to me in the event of his death.

to revert or recur, as in thought, discourse, etc.: He returned to his story.

to make a reply or retort: She returned with a witty sally.

verb (used with object)

to put, bring, take, give, or send back to the original place, position, etc.: to return a book to a shelf; to return a child to her mother; to return the switch to off position.

to send or give back in reciprocation, recompense, or requital: to return evil for good.

to reciprocate, repay, or react to (something sent, given, done, etc.) with something similar: to return the enemy's fire; to return a favor.

Law.

to give to a judge or official (a statement or a writ of actions done).
to render (a verdict, decision, etc.).

to reflect (light, sound, etc.).

to yield (a profit, revenue, etc.), as in return for labor, expenditure, or investment.

to report or announce officially: to return a list of members.

to elect, as to a legislative body: The voters returned him to office by a landslide.

Military. to put (a weapon) back into its holder.

Cards. to respond to (a suit led) by a similar lead: She returned diamonds.

to turn back or in the reverse direction, as a served ball in tennis.

Chiefly Architecture. to cause to turn or proceed in a different direction from the previous line of direction; reverse: to return a cornice at each end of a façade.

noun

the act or fact of returning as by going or coming back or bringing, sending, or giving back: the return of the Jews from the Diaspora; We should appreciate your return of the book immediately.

a recurrence: the return of the moon each month.

reciprocation, repayment, or requital: profits in return for outlay.

response or reply.

a person or thing that is returned: returns of mill goods.

the gain realized on an exchange of goods.

Often returns. a yield or profit, as from labor, land, business, or investment: He received a quick return on his money.

Also called tax return. a statement, on an officially prescribed form, of income, deductions, exemptions, etc., and taxes due.

Usually returns. an official or unofficial report on a count of votes, candidates elected, etc.: election returns.

Chiefly British. return ticket(def 2).

Architecture.

the continuation of a molding, projection, etc., in a different direction.
a side or part that falls away from the front of any straight or flat member or area.

a tablelike extension attached at a right angle to a desk at typing height, for holding a typewriter, computer, etc.

a key or lever on a typewriter or other business machine that returns the carriage to the extreme right, or the typing element to the extreme left, for the beginning of a new line.

Computers. See under carriage return(def 2).

Sports.

the act of returning a ball.
the ball that is returned.

Football. a runback of a kick, intercepted pass, or fumble recovery.

Economics. yield per unit as compared to the cost per unit involved in a specific industrial process.

Law.

the bringing or sending back of various documents, such as a writ, summons, or subpoena, with a brief written report usually endorsed upon it, by a sheriff, to the court from which it issued.
a certified document by a great variety of officers, as assessors, collectors, and election officers.
the report or certificate endorsed in such documents.

Cards. a lead that responds to a partner's lead.

Theater. a flat or drapery parallel to the tormentor for masking the offstage area and often completing the downstage part of a set.

returns,

merchandise shipped back to a supplier from a retailer or distributor as unsold or unsalable.
merchandise returned to a retailer by a consumer.

adjective

of or relating to a return or returning: a return trip.

sent, given, or done in return: a return shot.

done or occurring again: a return engagement of the opera.

noting a person or thing that is returned or returning to a place: return cargo.

changing in direction; doubling or returning on itself: a return twist in a road.

used for returning, recirculating, etc.: the return road; a return pipe.

(of a game) played in order to provide the loser of an earlier game with the opportunity to win from the same opponent: return match.

adequate, necessary, or provided to enable the return of a mailed package or letter to its sender: return postage guaranteed; return address; return envelope.

Nearby words

retrusive occlusion, retry, retsina, rett's syndrome, retune, return, return bend, return crease, return extrasystole, return of the native, the, return on assets

Origin of return

1275–1325; (v.) Middle English retornen < Middle French retorner, returner, Old French (see re-, turn); (noun) Middle English < Anglo-French retorn, return, derivative of Old French retorner, returner; (adj.) derivative of the noun

SYNONYMS FOR return

4 rejoin.

5 replace.

6 exchange.

10 pay, repay.

23 revenue, income.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR return ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

non·re·turn, adjectivepre·re·turn, noun, verb (used without object)un·re·turned, adjectiveun·re·turn·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for returned

A single father, he had been living abroad and returned when his mother was diagnosed with cancer.
Everyone at This Dinner Party Has Lost Someone|Samantha Levine|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
He contracted pneumonia, but he recovered and returned to demonstrating.
Dr. King Goes to Hollywood: The Flawed History of ‘Selma’|Gary May|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Recall how Clinton returned to Arkansas from the campaign trail to preside over the execution of a mentally disabled man.
President Cuomo Would’ve Been a Lion|Jonathan Alter|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
If they returned to their church, they would be spared a second attack.
Dr. King Goes to Hollywood: The Flawed History of ‘Selma’|Gary May|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST

But when she returned to Selma in 1962 to care for her aged mother, she lost that right.
Dr. King Goes to Hollywood: The Flawed History of ‘Selma’|Gary May|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
"Dunno ez I want ye now," she returned, with a toss of her head.
Frank Merriwell Down South|Burt L. Standish
That house was, at length, the only one left standing; and when we returned Mrs. W. pointed it out to me.
Retrospect of Western Travel, Volume I (of 2)|Harriet Martineau
It served to cheat away a tedious hour, and I returned to my tent fatigued and half sick.
Personal Memoirs Of A Residence Of Thirty Years With The Indian Tribes On The American Frontiers|Henry Rowe Schoolcraft
To all this chaff Peter returned modest replies and the odd little chuckle that had so endeared him to his schoolmates.
The Story of Leather|Sara Ware Bassett
Then she went for Miss Ashton, but she also had not returned.
Miss Ashton's New Pupil|Mrs. S. S. Robbins

British Dictionary definitions for returned

return

/ (rɪˈtɜːn) /

verb

(intr) to come back to a former place or state

(tr) to give, take, or carry back; replace or restore

(tr) to repay or recompense, esp with something of equivalent valuereturn the compliment

(tr) to earn or yield (profit or interest) as an income from an investment or venture

(intr) to come back or revert in thought or speechI'll return to that later

(intr) to recur or reappearthe symptoms have returned

to answer or reply

(tr) to vote into office; elect

(tr) law (of a jury) to deliver or render (a verdict)

(tr) to send back or reflect (light or sound)the canyon returned my shout

(tr) to submit (a report, etc) about (someone or something) to someone in authority

(tr) cards to lead back (the suit led by one's partner)

(tr) ball games to hit, throw, or play (a ball) back

(tr) architect to turn (a part, decorative moulding, etc) away from its original direction

return thanks (of Christians) to say grace before a meal

noun

the act or an instance of coming back

something that is given or sent back, esp unsatisfactory merchandise returned to the maker or supplier or a theatre ticket sent back by a purchaser for resale

the act or an instance of putting, sending, or carrying back; replacement or restoration

(often plural) the yield, revenue, or profit accruing from an investment, transaction, or venture

the act or an instance of reciprocation or repayment (esp in the phrase in return for)

a recurrence or reappearance

an official report, esp of the financial condition of a company

a form (a tax return) on which a statement concerning one's taxable income is made
the statement itself

(often plural) a statement of the votes counted at an election or poll

an answer or reply

British short for return ticket

NZ informal a second helping of food served at a table

architect

a part of a building that forms an angle with the façade
any part of an architectural feature that forms an angle with the main part

law a report by a bailiff or other officer on the outcome of a formal document such as a claim, summons, etc, issued by a court

cards a lead of a card in the suit that one's partner has previously led

ball games the act of playing or throwing a ball back

by return or by return of post British by the next post back to the sender

many happy returns or many happy returns of the day a conventional greeting to someone on his or her birthday

the point of no return the point at which a person's commitment is irrevocable

adjective

of, relating to, or characterized by a returna return visit; a return performance

denoting a second, reciprocated occasiona return match

Word Origin for return

C14: from Old French retorner; see re-, turn

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

Idioms and Phrases with returned

return

In addition to the idioms beginning with return

return the compliment
return to the fold

also see:

in return
many happy returns
point of no return