return

Sayri-TURN/ɹɪˈtɝn/UK/ɹɪˈtɜːn/

Verbreturns, returning, returned

Noun pluralreturns

32 meanings of return

Practice

1
go back (place)verbintransitive
To come or go back to a place or person you were with before.
Like a bird flying back to the same nest every year.
I return home every evening after work.
She returns to her village each summer.
UsageSay return to school and return home.
Oppositeleave, depart
Note
2
come againverbintransitive
To happen again after some time has passed.
Like the seasons that come around again each year.
Her headaches return whenever she is tired.
Spring returns after the cold winter.
Similarrecur, reappear, resurface
Oppositedisappear
3
homecomingnouncountable or uncountable
The act of coming or going back to a place.
Like coming home again after a long trip away.
Everyone was excited about her return from the trip.
His return to school surprised his old classmates.
UsageOften on my return or her return from a trip.
Similarcomeback, homecoming, reappearance
Oppositedeparture
Note
4
hand backverbtransitive
To give something back to its owner, or put it back where it was before.
Like handing back a toy you borrowed from a friend.
Please return my book when you finish reading it.
He returned the keys to his neighbor.
UsageSay return it to her. Give back means the same.
Similarrestore
Oppositekeep, retain
5
investment gainnouncountable or uncountable
The money you gain or lose from an investment.
Like getting extra apples after planting just a few seeds.
The return on her savings was small last year.
Investors hope for a high return on their money.
UsageSay a return on your money.
Similaryield, profit, gain
Note
6
item sent backnouncountable
An item taken back to a store, or the act of taking it back.
The store processed my return very quickly.
This jacket is a return because the zipper broke.
7
take back (shop)verbtransitive
To take or send something you bought back to the store to get your money back or a different item.
Like taking a shirt that doesn't fit back to the shop for your money.
I need to return these shoes because they don't fit.
She returned the broken toaster to the store.
8
tax formnouncountable
A form you send to the government showing your income and the tax you owe.
Like a yearly report you send the government about the money you earned.
I file my tax return every April.
She forgot to sign her return before mailing it.
UsageSay file your tax return.
9
pay back (favor)verbtransitive
To do the same thing back to someone, like calling them back or repaying a kindness.
Like giving a present back to someone who gave you one.
He returned her kindness with a thoughtful gift.
It is good to return a favor when someone helps you.
UsageSay return a favor or return a call (call back).
Similarrepay, reciprocate
Note
10
round-trip ticketnounBritishcountable
A ticket for a trip to a place and back again.
I bought a return to London for the weekend.
A return costs less than two one-way tickets.
UsageThe opposite is a single, for a one-way trip.
Oppositesingle
11
give result (code)verbtransitive
In programming, for a function to finish and give a result back to the code that used it.
Like answering a question by handing back the answer to whoever asked.
The function returns the total when it finishes.
This method should return the user's name.
Note

Less common meanings

12
earlier topicverbintransitive
To go back to an earlier idea or point in a story.
Like turning back to an earlier page in a book.
Let us return to the main question now.
The author returns to that theme in the final chapter.
UsageSay return to a point or topic.
Similarrevert
Oppositedigress
Note
13
output valuenouncountable
The value that a function sends back after it runs.
Like the answer a calculator shows after you press equals.
The function's return was zero, so the test passed.
In this code, the return is a list of names.
Note
14
report backverbtransitive
To bring back news of something and make it known.
The jury will return a verdict tomorrow morning.
The scouts returned word of the enemy's position.
UsageOften return a verdict: the jury returned a verdict of guilty.
Similarreport, submit, deliver
Note
15
say in replyverbtransitive
To say something as an answer, often quickly or sharply.
Like answering right away when someone speaks to you.
"Not a chance," she returned with a grin.
Ask her a rude question, and she will return a sharp answer.
UsageUsed in stories like said or replied: "No," she returned.
Note
16
official figuresnouncountable
A formal report of facts or numbers, like the results of a count or a vote.
Like a report card that lists all your scores in one place.
The election returns showed a very close race.
Each family filled out a census return listing everyone in the house.
UsageOften election returns.
Similarreport, statement, account
Note
17
spoken answernouncountable
An answer or reply given to someone.
Similarreply, answer, retort, response, rejoinder
18
hit back (tennis)verbtransitive
To hit the ball back over the net after the other player serves.
Like hitting a ball back to a friend who threw it to you.
She tried to return his powerful serve.
If you can return that fast serve, you will win the point.
Note
19
footballnouncountable
The play where a player catches a kicked ball and runs it back toward the other team.
Like catching a thrown ball and running back toward the person who threw it.
His punt return went all the way for a touchdown.
A long return set up the offense near midfield.
Note
20
line breaknouncountable
A hidden character that ends a line of text and sends the cursor back to the start.
Like the lever on a typewriter that pushes the paper back to the start of a line.
Each line in the file ends with a return.
The old keyboard sent a return character whenever I hit that key.
Note
21
function exitnouncountable
The moment when a function gives control back to the program that called it.
Like a relay runner passing the baton so the next runner can take over.
The return happens as soon as the last line runs.
After the return, the main program keeps going.
Note
22
electverbBritishtransitive
In Britain, to officially declare that someone has won an election.
Like a school officially announcing who won the class vote.
The town returned the same member for thirty years.
The voters here always return the same party's candidate.
UsageThe place is the subject: the town returned him to Parliament.
Similarelect
Note
23
throw to keeperverbtransitive
In cricket, to throw the ball back to the player near the stumps.
Like throwing a ball back to home base to get a runner out.
She fielded the ball and returned it to the keeper.
Fielders try to return the ball to the wicketkeeper in one quick throw.
Similarthrow
Note
24
cricket thrownouncountable
In cricket, a throw from a fielder back to the player near the stumps.
Like throwing a ball back to the catcher to tag a runner out.
Her quick return to the keeper ran the batsman out.
A wild return let the batsmen take an extra run.
Similarthrow
Note
25
verb
In a card game, to play a card after another player leads one.
26
verb
In fencing, to strike back right after blocking your opponent's blade.
27
verbobsolete
To turn around and go back.
‘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
verbobsolete
To make something face 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
noun
A pipe that carries water or another fluid back to the boiler or central plant.
30
noun
A tunnel in a mine that carries used air out.
31
noun
A short desk section sticking out at a right angle, usually a little lower.
32
noun
The short side of a wall or trim that turns a corner.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of return apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Old French retourner, meaning "to turn back." It comes from Latin parts meaning "back" and "to turn."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

Return derives from Old French retourner. en.wiktionary.org
Old French retourner means to turn or go back. en.wiktionary.org
The Latin prefix in its ancestry means 'back'. en.wiktionary.org
The Latin verb in its ancestry means 'to turn'. en.wiktionary.org