return

Less common meanings

12. 12
    earlier topicverbintransitive

    To go back to an earlier point in thought, narration, or argument.

    After a long digression, we return to the central argument.

    The speaker returned to her opening point at the very end.

    UsageOften opens the sentence: to return to my point. What you go back to follows to.

    Similarrevert

    Oppositedigress

    Note

    A signpost in talk and writing: "To return to my story" announces that a digression is over. Unlike the physical sense, nothing moves here except the listener's attention.

13. 13
    output valuenouncountable

    The data passed back from a called procedure; the value a function gives back to the code that called it.

    The return of that method is a list of matching files.

    If the return is null, the program shows an error.

    Note

    Shorthand for return value. Calling code checks the return, for example whether it is null or a list, before relying on it. A function that hands back nothing has no return in this sense, even though it still makes a return of control to its caller. Source

    Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

    • A function can finish without returning a value while still returning control to its caller. learn.microsoft.com
14. 14
    report backverbtransitive

    To report something, or bring it back and make it known.

    The committee returned its findings to the board.

    Census takers return accurate counts to the central office.

    UsageCommon in return a verdict and in reporting election results.

    Similarreport, submit, deliver

    Note

    Bringing word back to whoever is owed it. In the King James Bible of 1611, "Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord." The same idea of an official report gives the phrase to return the result of an election. That sense of an official report also runs through the "elect" meaning and the election returns of the "formal report" noun. Source

    Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

    • The King James Bible was first published in 1611. wwwe.lib.cam.ac.uk
    • The quotation occurs in Exodus 19:8; it describes Moses reporting the people's words, rather than quoting words spoken by Moses. The item modernizes the original spelling. en.wikisource.org
    • The election sense is connected with officially reporting who has been elected. en.wiktionary.org
    • Election returns belong to the noun sense meaning an account or formal report. en.wiktionary.org
15. 15
    say in replyverbtransitive

    To say something in reply, often quickly or sharply; to answer or retort.

    She returned a calm answer to the angry question.

    Whenever his sister teased him, he was ready to return a quick insult without even looking up from his phone.

    UsageMostly in stories, after a quotation: "No," she returned. Also in return thanks and return an answer.

    Note

    A storyteller's verb for speech, standing where said or replied would: "Do it yourself!" she returned. Dickens in A Tale of Two Cities (1859) and Henry James in What Maisie Knew (1897) both use it this way, often with the speaker placed after the verb, as in "returned the spy." Source

    Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

    • Charles Dickens wrote A Tale of Two Cities, first published in 1859. ibiblio.org
    • Henry James wrote What Maisie Knew, first published in 1897. en.wikipedia.org
    • Dickens uses returned as a dialogue verb, including the exact narration fragment 'returned the spy'. gutenberg.org
    • James also uses returned as a dialogue verb; the speaker in this example is Sir Claude. gutenberg.org
16. 16
    official figuresnouncountable

    A formal account or report of an action performed or facts gathered, especially, in the plural, a set of tabulated statistics prepared for general information.

    Officials counted the returns late into the night.

    He submitted a detailed return of the year's expenses.

    UsageIn the plural for vote and census counts: election returns, as they come in.

    Similarreport, statement, account

    Note

    In the plural it names figures that arrive piece by piece. Charles E. Lee's account in Railway Magazine (1942) has the poll result declared at Carlisle only once "the other returns having come in." In the singular it is one formal tally, such as a return of goods produced or sold. A tax return, the income report, is a narrower kind of the same document. Source

    Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

    • Charles E. Lee published the account in Railway Magazine in 1942. en.wikipedia.org
    • Lee's account describes the poll result being declared at Carlisle after the other returns arrived, using the quoted wording. en.wiktionary.org
17. 17
    spoken answernouncountable

    An answer; a reply.

    Similarreply, answer, retort, response, rejoinder

18. 18
    hit back (tennis)verbtransitive

    In tennis and similar games, to hit the ball back to an opponent, especially after a serve.

    He returned the serve with a sharp cross-court shot.

    Few players can return a serve traveling at 130 miles per hour.

    Note

    The receiver's verb: one player serves and the other returns. Its object is nearly always the serve itself, and speed, spin and placement are what make a serve hard to return. Like the fencer's counterstroke, it names an answer delivered with the racket, and it opens the receiving side's share of the rally.

19. 19
    footballnouncountable

    In American football, the act of running the ball back toward the opponents' goal after catching a kick or punt, or after an interception or fumble recovery.

    The rookie's return covered nearly fifty yards before he was tackled.

    A muffed return handed the other team excellent field position.

    Note

    Football measures it in yards. The player who fields the punt is said to return it, so the verb and the noun travel together, and punt return is the usual compound. Field position is what is at stake: a long return sets up the receiving side, and a dropped ball can hand the advantage to the kicking team. Source

    Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

    • Football return distances are measured in yards. nflgsis.com
    • A long return improves the receiving team's field position. operations.nfl.com
    • A dropped punt can allow the kicking team to recover the ball. nflgsis.com
20. 20
    line breaknouncountable

    A control character that ends a line of text, moving the cursor back to the beginning of the line.

    The old printer needed a return at the end of every line, or the text ran together.

    Some text editors show a small symbol wherever a return breaks the line.

    Note

    A shortened name for the carriage return, which recalls the moving carriage of a typewriter or printer that went back to the start of each line. The character still does that job of resetting to the line's beginning. On many systems it is paired with a line feed to end a line of text, and it is often abbreviated CR. Source

    Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 5 facts

    • Return names the carriage-return character. en.wiktionary.org
    • The name recalls the typewriter mechanism that returned the carriage to the start of a line. en.wikipedia.org
    • The carriage-return character resets the cursor to the beginning of the same line. developer.mozilla.org
    • Carriage return is paired with line feed to delimit text lines. rfc-editor.org
    • CR abbreviates carriage return. rfc-editor.org
21. 21
    function exitnouncountable

    The act of handing control back to the procedure that called a function.

    An early return skips the rest of the function's code.

    The function's return triggers cleanup of its local variables.

    Note

    Early return is the phrase programmers meet most often. It means leaving a function before its last line, typically once an answer is known or the input fails a test. The noun names the moment control passes back to the caller, and it is distinct from the value handed back, which a function may or may not supply. Source

    Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

    • An early return exits a function before its end, including when an input check detects an error. doc.rust-lang.org
    • The noun return can name the transfer of control back to the calling procedure. en.wiktionary.org
    • Returning control is distinct from supplying a return value; some functions return without a value. learn.microsoft.com
22. 22
    electverbBritishtransitive

    To declare someone elected according to the official report of the election officers.

    The borough returned a Liberal candidate by a wide margin.

    Constituencies that return an independent member are rare.

    UsageThe voting area is the subject and the winner the object, often with to: the town returned her to Parliament.

    Similarelect

    Note

    The sense extends reporting a result, because the official report from election officers declares who has been elected. Source

    Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

    • The electoral sense extends the sense of reporting a result. en.wiktionary.org
23. 23
    throw to keeperverbtransitive

    Of a fielder in cricket, to throw the ball in from the field to the wicketkeeper or to whoever is fielding in that position.

    He returned the ball flat and hard to the stumps.

    Good fielders return the ball to the keeper in one smooth motion.

    Similarthrow

    Note

    Fielding language. Once the ball has been struck into the field, a fielder returns it to the wicket-keeper or to whoever stands at the stumps. Usually the aim is a run-out, or at least stopping the batsmen from taking another run. The ball is the object, and a throw is judged by how flat and fast it arrives. Source

    Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

    • A fielder returns the fielded ball to the wicketkeeper or another player at the wicket. discovery.co.za
    • The return aims to prevent further runs or achieve a run-out. en.wikipedia.org
    • Speed and a flat trajectory are relevant qualities of a fielding throw. skillsengland.education.gov.uk
24. 24
    cricket thrownouncountable

    A fielder's throw in cricket aimed at the wicketkeeper or at a teammate stationed at the wicket.

    The fielder's flat return reached the keeper on the bounce.

    A fast, flat return from the deep reached the wicketkeeper in time for a run out.

    Similarthrow

    Note

    The noun for the throw that the fielding verb describes. A return is judged by its speed, flatness and accuracy, and it is usually located by where it starts, such as a return from the boundary. A good one can save runs or catch a batsman short of his ground. Source

    Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

    • Speed, flatness and accuracy are qualities of a good fielding return. en.wikipedia.org
    • A good return can save runs. sportscommunity.com.au
    • A return can enable a run-out when the batter is outside his ground. icc-cricket.com
25. 25
    verb

    In card games, to lead a card of the suit that one's partner led earlier.
26. 26
    verb

    To give a thrust or cut immediately after parrying an opponent's sword-thrust.
27. 27
    verbobsolete

    To go back the way one came, or withdraw.

    ‘I suppose here is none woll be glad to returne – and as for me,’ seyde Sir Cador, ‘I had lever dye this day that onys to turne my bak.’

    1470, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur
28. 28
    verbobsolete

    To turn something about so that it faces the other way.

    Whan Kyng Marke harde hym sey that worde, he returned his horse and abode by hym.

    1470, Thomas Malory, “Capitulum xiij”
29. 29
    noun

    A pipe that carries water or other fluid back to the boiler or central plant, the counterpart of the flow pipe that sends it out.
30. 30
    noun

    A passage in a mine through which stale air from the working face travels toward the exit.
31. 31
    noun

    A short side section joined at a right angle to a desk, usually set a little lower than the main top.
32. 32
    noun

    A part of a building, wall or molding that turns off in another direction, usually at a right angle, especially the shorter of the two sides.