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Return Very Common

Return has 31 different meanings across 2 categories:

Noun · Verb

Definitions
Noun
1

document giving the tax collector information about the taxpayer's tax liability

"his gross income was enough that he had to file a tax return"

2

a coming to or returning home

"on his return from Australia we gave him a welcoming party"

3

the occurrence of a change in direction back in the opposite direction

"After taking a wrong turn on the highway, I had to return by making a U-turn and driving back the way I came."

4

getting something back again

"upon the restitution of the book to its rightful owner the child was given a tongue lashing"

5

the act of going back to a prior location

"they set out on their return to the base camp"

6

the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property

"the average return was about 5%"

7

happening again (especially at regular intervals)

"the return of spring"

8

a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)

"it brought a sharp rejoinder from the teacher"

9

the key on electric typewriters or computer keyboards that causes a carriage return and a line feed

"After typing her name, she hit the Return key to move the cursor down to the next line."

10

a reciprocal group action

"in return we gave them as good as we got"

11

a tennis stroke that sends the ball back to the other player

"he won the point on a cross-court return"

12

(American football) the act of running back the ball after a kickoff or punt or interception or fumble

"After the quarterback intercepted the pass, he sprinted downfield to return it for a touchdown."

13

the act of someone appearing again

"his reappearance as Hamlet has been long awaited"

14

The act of returning.

"The return of the spring rains finally turned the dried-up riverbed into a flowing stream again."

In plain English: A return is something that comes back to where it started.

"The return ticket is much cheaper than buying two one-way tickets."

Verb
1

go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

"return to your native land"

"the professor returned to his teaching position after serving as Dean"

2

give back

"render money"

3

go back to a previous state

"We reverted to the old rules"

4

go back to something earlier

"This harks back to a previous remark of his"

5

bring back to the point of departure

"After a long hike, we finally returned to our starting campsite just as the sun began to set."

6

return in kind

"return a compliment"

"return her love"

7

make a return

"return a kickback"

8

answer back

"When I asked him to pass the salt, he just stared at me and refused to return my greeting."

9

be restored

"Her old vigor returned"

10

pay back

"Please refund me my money"

11

pass down

"render a verdict"

"deliver a judgment"

12

elect again

"The incumbent mayor hopes to return to office next year after a landslide victory in the primary election."

13

be inherited by

"The estate fell to my sister"

"The land returned to the family"

"The estate devolved to an heir that everybody had assumed to be dead"

14

return to a previous position; in mathematics

"The point returned to the interior of the figure"

15

give or supply

"The cow brings in 5 liters of milk"

"This year's crop yielded 1,000 bushels of corn"

"The estate renders some revenue for the family"

16

submit (a report, etc.) to someone in authority

"submit a bill to a legislative body"

17

To come or go back (to a place or person).

"After spending the summer in Italy, she finally returned home to visit her family for Christmas."

In plain English: To return something means to give it back to the person who owns it.

"I will return home after work."

Usage: Use return to describe physically coming back to an original location, such as returning home after work. Distinguish it from resume when you mean starting again rather than going back to where you started.

Example Sentences
"The return ticket is much cheaper than buying two one-way tickets." noun
"I will return home after work." verb
"I will return the borrowed book to the library tomorrow." verb
"She promised to return home before dinner time." verb
"Please return my calls when you have a moment." verb
See Also
back come come back reply give coming back coming give back
Related Terms
back come come back reply give coming back coming give back key procedure quid pro quo recall returnee reverse brain drain returnest renewalism return to form elect fielder throw
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
legal document arrival turning acquisition motion income repeat reply key group action tennis stroke run appearance travel give change by reversal denote bring reciprocate transport answer reappear pay communicate elect change hands return produce submit
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
amended return declaration of estimated tax false return information return joint return repatriation clawback reentry remand economic rent payback atavism flashback sass requital retaliation reciprocation tit for tat backhand chop drive drop shot forehand get ground stroke half volley lob overhead passing shot volley comeback resurrect revisit trace backtrack cut back home go home return boomerang bounce feed back relapse resile recover recur redound reimburse restore fall report out

Origin

The word "return" comes from the Middle English returnen, which was borrowed from Old French and ultimately derived from Medieval Latin meaning "to turn back." While it is formed by combining the prefix re- with turn, its history traces directly to a phrase describing the action of turning around or going back.

Rhyming Words
urn gurn kurn durn ourn turn burn tourn churn bourn mourn yourn inurn spurn upturn caburn auburn beturn deturn inturn
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