return
Americanverb (used without object)
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returns,
present (3rd person singular)
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returned,
past participle, past
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returning
present participle
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to go or come back, as to a former place, position, or state: to return to public office;
to return from abroad;
to return to public office;
to return to work.
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to revert to a former owner.
The money I gave him returns to me in the event of his death.
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to revert or recur, as in thought, discourse, etc..
He returned to his story.
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to make a reply or retort.
She returned with a witty sally.
verb (used with object)
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returns,
present (3rd person singular)
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returned,
past participle, past
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returning
present participle
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to put, bring, take, give, or send back to the original place, position, etc.: to return a child to her mother;
to return a book to a shelf;
to return a child to her mother;
to return the switch to off position.
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to send or give back in reciprocation, recompense, or requital.
to return evil for good.
- Synonyms:
- exchange
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to reciprocate, repay, or react to (something sent, given, done, etc.) with something similar: to return a favor.
to return the enemy's fire;
to return a favor.
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Law.
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to give to a judge or official (a statement or a writ of actions done).
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to render (a verdict, decision, etc.).
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to reflect (light, sound, etc.).
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to yield (a profit, revenue, etc.), as in return for labor, expenditure, or investment.
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to report or announce officially.
to return a list of members.
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to elect, as to a legislative body.
The voters returned him to office by a landslide.
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Military. to put (a weapon) back into its holder.
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Cards. to respond to (a suit led) by a similar lead.
She returned diamonds.
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to turn back or in the reverse direction, as a served ball in tennis.
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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
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returns
plural
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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.
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a recurrence.
the return of the moon each month.
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reciprocation, repayment, or requital.
profits in return for outlay.
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response or reply.
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a person or thing that is returned.
returns of mill goods.
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the gain realized on an exchange of goods.
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Often returns a yield or profit, as from labor, land, business, or investment.
He received a quick return on his money.
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Usually returns an official or unofficial report on a count of votes, candidates elected, etc..
election returns.
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Chiefly British. return ticket.
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Architecture.
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the continuation of a molding, projection, etc., in a different direction.
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a side or part that falls away from the front of any straight or flat member or area.
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a tablelike extension attached at a right angle to a desk at typing height, for holding a typewriter, computer, etc.
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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.
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Computers. carriage return2
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Sports.
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the act of returning a ball.
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the ball that is returned.
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Football. a runback of a kick, intercepted pass, or fumble recovery.
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Economics. yield per unit as compared to the cost per unit involved in a specific industrial process.
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Law.
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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.
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a certified document by a great variety of officers, as assessors, collectors, and election officers.
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the report or certificate endorsed in such documents.
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Cards. a lead that responds to a partner's lead.
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Theater. a flat or drapery parallel to the tormentor for masking the offstage area and often completing the downstage part of a set.
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returns,
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merchandise shipped back to a supplier from a retailer or distributor as unsold or unsalable.
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merchandise returned to a retailer by a consumer.
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adjective
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of or relating to a return or returning.
a return trip.
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sent, given, or done in return.
a return shot.
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done or occurring again.
a return engagement of the opera.
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noting a person or thing that is returned or returning to a place.
return cargo.
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changing in direction; doubling or returning on itself.
a return twist in a road.
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used for returning, recirculating, etc.: a return pipe.
the return road;
a return pipe.
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(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.
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adequate, necessary, or provided to enable the return of a mailed package or letter to its sender: return address;
return postage guaranteed;
return address;
return envelope.
verb
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(intr) to come back to a former place or state
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(tr) to give, take, or carry back; replace or restore
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(tr) to repay or recompense, esp with something of equivalent value
return the compliment
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(tr) to earn or yield (profit or interest) as an income from an investment or venture
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(intr) to come back or revert in thought or speech
I'll return to that later
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(intr) to recur or reappear
the symptoms have returned
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to answer or reply
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(tr) to vote into office; elect
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(tr) law (of a jury) to deliver or render (a verdict)
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(tr) to send back or reflect (light or sound)
the canyon returned my shout
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(tr) to submit (a report, etc) about (someone or something) to someone in authority
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(tr) cards to lead back (the suit led by one's partner)
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(tr) ball games to hit, throw, or play (a ball) back
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(tr) architect to turn (a part, decorative moulding, etc) away from its original direction
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(of Christians) to say grace before a meal
noun
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the act or an instance of coming back
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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
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the act or an instance of putting, sending, or carrying back; replacement or restoration
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(often plural) the yield, revenue, or profit accruing from an investment, transaction, or venture
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the act or an instance of reciprocation or repayment (esp in the phrase in return for )
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a recurrence or reappearance
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an official report, esp of the financial condition of a company
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a form (a tax return ) on which a statement concerning one's taxable income is made
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the statement itself
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(often plural) a statement of the votes counted at an election or poll
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an answer or reply
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short for return ticket
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informal a second helping of food served at a table
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architect
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a part of a building that forms an angle with the façade
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any part of an architectural feature that forms an angle with the main part
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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
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cards a lead of a card in the suit that one's partner has previously led
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ball games the act of playing or throwing a ball back
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by the next post back to the sender
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a conventional greeting to someone on his or her birthday
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the point at which a person's commitment is irrevocable
adjective
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of, relating to, or characterized by a return
a return visit
a return performance
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denoting a second, reciprocated occasion
a return match
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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returnsimple
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returnssimple
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have returnedperfect
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has returnedperfect
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am returningprogressive
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are returningprogressive
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is returningprogressive
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have been returningperfect progressive
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has been returningperfect progressive
Past
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returnedsimple
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had returnedperfect
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was returningprogressive
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were returningprogressive
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had been returningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of return
First recorded in 1275–1325; (verb) Middle English retornen, from Middle French retorner, returner, Old French ( see re-, turn); (noun) Middle English, from Anglo-French retorn, return, derivative of Old French retorner, returner; (adjective) derivative of the noun
Explanation
When you return, you go back somewhere after being away. If you haven't been to Disney World since your fifth birthday, it might be fun to return when you're older. There are many ways to return — you can come back to a place, state, or activity, the way you return to jogging after getting a drink, or return to a feeling of sadness after brief cheer. You also might return something to someone else: "I need to return the book she loaned me," or "He returns her smile across the crowded room." A return can be a comment, a lobbed tennis ball, or even a financial profit.
Vocabulary lists containing return
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
It has to be actuarially sound, return all the money in equal monthly lifetime payments, and be irrevocable and nontransferable.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026
If you get into ‘deal heat,’ which I have a feeling Bob Iger did ... it’s hard to get a return when you way overpay.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026
An economic collapse followed the Taliban government's return to power after US-led forces withdrew in 2021.
From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026
“These types of visas are issued with a clear understanding that they are for those who intend to return home,” Pigott said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
Sarah R. was going to have to return to the counter soon.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Will there be additional tax returns or other tax obligations that need to be handled after I die?
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 24, 2026
“Hollywood returns almost nothing for that loyalty,” the letter said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026
Responding to the bank's annual report, First Minister John Swinney said it must be able to take risks to deliver "greater economic returns".
From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026
But, and it’s a big but, he used debt to boost returns, to the tune of 4 times leverage.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026
“Um, Leo, what’s your favorite piece of artwork today?” she asks, and he returns his attention to her.
From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila
He returned six years later, after titles in Milan and Madrid, and clinched his third Premier League crown in his second season, only to be gone by Christmas of the following campaign.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
Requests for comment from each of the hyperscalers weren’t immediately returned.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026
The footwear maker took a sales hit as it cut back on discounts even amid an inventory glut, but has now returned to growth.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
The union said on Monday that it had returned to talks with the company and had postponed shorter strikes planned for early this week.
From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026
She’d left school in June with ho-hum hair and returned in September with Oh My Goddess! without layers or fancy highlights.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Still, the policy setting board recognized that the trajectory for inflation meant that returning to target wasn’t likely until the end of 2027.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
But since no one got the majority necessary to avoid a runoff, voters are returning to the polls this week to pick a winner.
From Slate ● Aug. 25, 2026
The Aug. 28 ceremony will recognize the crew's role in advancing NASA's Artemis program and returning astronauts to deep space.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026
The paper says Rhys Wittock is "delighted that the royal is returning to the UK" and that the "Harry double cashes in".
From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026
There’s been talk of moving it indoors, building a glass dome over it, or even returning it to Egypt.
From "The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra's Needle" by Dan Gutman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
