Definition of return - Reverso English Dictionary
Verb
1.
movementintr. come back to a place or personintr.
- She will return home after the trip.
2.
ownershiptr. give something back to its original ownertr.
- He returned the book to the library.
3.
yield resulttr. produce a profit or resulttr.
- The investment did not return much profit..
4.
reciprocationtr. reciprocate an action or feelingtr.
- She returned his smile warmly.
5.
recurrenceintr. recur or happen againintr.
- The pain returned after a few hours.
6.
storiesintr. go back in thought or narrationintr.
- Let's return to the main topic.
7.
technologytr. TECH. pass data back to the calling proceduretr. TECH.
- The function returns the result to the main program.
8.
reportingtr. Rare submit a report to someone in authoritytr. Rare
- The officer returned the findings to the committee.
Noun
1.
exchangeact of giving back something received
- He demanded the return of his book..
2.
arrivalact of going back to a place
- Her return to the city was unexpected.
3.
commerceitem sent back due to defect
- The return was processed quickly by the store.
4.
financeprofit from an investment
- The return on his investment was substantial.
5.
technologyUS keyboard key that moves the cursor to the next lineUS
- Press return to start a new paragraph..
6.
sportsact of sending a ball back in sports
- His return in tennis was swift and accurate.
7.
taxUS official report of financial informationUS
- He filed his tax return before the deadline.
8.
architectureTECH. UK part of a building forming an angleTECH. UK
- The return of the building added to its charm.
Adjective
1.
timerelated to going back to a previous state
- The return flight was delayed due to weather.
2.
eventsdenoting a reciprocated or repeated occasion
- They planned a return visit next month.
Images of return

keyboard key that moves the cursor to the next line
Expressions with return
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come back without obtaining an item
She searched for the book but returned empty-handed.
immediately after receiving something
Please send the documents by return.
do something nice for someone who helped you
She helped me last week, so I will return the favour.
send back to the original sender
The package was damaged, so I had to return to sender.
become more realistic or grounded
After the meeting, he had to return to earth.
comeback to previous success or quality
The team's return to form surprised everyone this season.
regain mental clarity after confusion or shock
After the accident, he finally returned to his senses.
send a response immediately after receiving a message
Please reply by return to confirm your attendance.
give a compliment back to someone
She praised his work, and he returned the compliment.
reconnect with fundamental principles or values
The company aims to return to roots to improve its culture.
resume a previous role or activity
She returned to the fold after a brief retirement.
stage where an irreversible decision must be made
Choosing to invest was the point of no return for the company.
regain favor or approval after a decline
After the scandal, he returned to grace with the public.
start trying again after stopping or failing before
After a short break, she returned to the attack.
go back into a difficult or competitive situation
After lunch, the team returned to the fray.
path where turning back is impossible
Once you start, you're on the road of no return.
decay or disintegrate over time
The old building slowly returned to dust.
as an exchange for something received
He offered his services in return for a place to stay.
facility in a library for returning books
I dropped the novels in the book return.
act of returning cash to a store or business
She requested a cash return for the faulty item.
as a response or exchange for something
He offered advice, and asked for nothing in return..
in a way that means not coming back again
He left the city never to return.
call someone back after missing their call
I will return a call to my friend after lunch.
do something nice for someone who helped you
She returned a favor by helping him move.
Origin of return
Latin, re (back) + turnare (to turn)
Terms with return included in their meaning
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return
to a previous condition or place
movement
return to a place or position
movement
return to a place after leaving
home
return to one's house or place of origin
movement
return to a previous place or state
movement
return to a previous place or state
literal return
return to one's house or place of residence
pleasure
expressing pleasure at someone's return
ownership
you don't need to return it
return
back to a previous state or place
temporary use
receive something temporarily expecting to return it
rebound effect
return from a surface suddenly
work
receive money in return for work or services
borrowing
allow temporary use with expectation of return
returning
return to a place or position
transport home
return someone to their home by car
finance
receive money in return for work, services, or goods
ownership
return something to its original owner
return promise
promise to return to a place or situation soon
immediate return
return immediately or very soon
return unsatisfactory item
return an item due to dissatisfaction or defect
shopping
return an item for a refund
return
indicate return to a previous place or location
success
return to success after a decline
Examples of return in a sentence
The birds return to this area every spring. She returned the borrowed dress to her friend. They returned the keys to the landlord. The project is expected to return significant benefits. This strategy should return better outcomes. He returned her kindness with a thoughtful gesture.
They returned the favor by hosting a dinner. The symptoms may return if the treatment is stopped. Old memories return whenever she visits her hometown. The novel returns to Elena's childhood in the next chapter. After the flashback, the narrator returned to the present day. The script returns data to the server. This method returns the value to the caller. She returned the completed forms to the HR department. The scientist returned the data to the research team. The return of the stolen artifacts was celebrated. She awaited the return of her lost cat. The return of the migratory birds signals spring. His return from the war was celebrated by the town. The customer was unhappy with the return process. Returns are accepted within 30 days of purchase. Investors are pleased with the return this quarter. The return exceeded all financial forecasts. Hit the return key to submit your entry. The return button is stuck on my keyboard. Her return in badminton caught her opponent off guard. The player's return was the highlight of the match. The accountant reviewed the company's annual return. She was anxious about her tax return status. The architect designed a unique return for the facade. A small return was added to the building's extension. The return journey was smooth and uneventful. We are planning a return visit next year. The return concert was even better than the first. They eagerly awaited the return match of the series.
View all translations of return
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:revenir, restitution, ...
- German:zurückkehren, Rückgabe, ...
- Italian:tornare, restituzione, ...
- Spanish:volver, devolución, ...
- Portuguese:voltar, devolução, ...
- Chinese:返回, 返还, ...
- Japanese:戻る, 返却, ...
- Arabic:عاد, إِعَادَة, ...
- Hebrew:לַחֲזוֹר, הַחֲזָרָה, ...
- Russian:возвращаться, возврат, ...
- Ukrainian:повернутися, повернення, ...
- Hindi:लौटना, वापसी, ...
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