return

1. 1

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

   • Although the birds fly north for the summer, they return here in winter.
2. 2

   To go back in thought, narration, or argument.intransitive

   • To return to my story[…]
3. 3

   To recur; to come again.intransitive

   • Winter returns every year.
4. 4

   To turn back, retreat.intransitiveobsolete

   • ‘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.’
5. 5

   To turn (something) round.obsoletetransitive

   • Whan Kyng Marke harde hym sey that worde, he returned his horse and abode by hym.
6. 6

   To place or put back something where it had been.transitive

   • Please return your hands to your lap.
   • Strain the stock and return it to the pan.
7. 7

   To give something back to its original holder or owner.transitive

   • You should return the library book within one month.
8. 8

   To give in requital or recompense; to requite.

   • […]the Lord ſhall returne thy wickedneſſe vpon thine owne head.
9. 9

   To reciprocate (a visit or telephone call, electronic message, etc.).transitive

   • Hello, I’m just returning your call. What did you want to talk about?
   • I wrote to my ex-wife but she won't return my emails.
10. 10

    To take back something to a vendor for a complete or partial refund.transitive

    • Yeah, it’s $600,000 but, if it doesn’t work, you can always return it. As long as it’s undamaged and in the original packaging, I’ll give you a full refund.

syn. revend · give back · reinstate · render · restore · return · revest · surrender

ant. take

1. 1

   The act of returning.countableuncountable

   • I expect the house to be spotless upon my return.
2. 2

   A return ticket.countableuncountable

   • Do you want a one-way or a return?
3. 3

   An item that is returned, e.g. due to a defect.countableuncountable

   • Most product returns to the top retailers in the USA (either direct from the consumer or through non-sales) will be taken back by the original suppliers for rework or disposal.
4. 4

   An answer.countableuncountable

   • a return to one’s question
5. 5

   An account, or formal report, of an action performed, of a duty discharged, of facts or statistics, etc.; especially, in the plural, a set of tabulated statistics prepared for general information.countableuncountable

   • election returns; a return of the amount of goods produced or sold
6. 6

   Gain or loss from an investment.countableuncountable

   • It yielded a return of 5%.
7. 7

   A report of income submitted to a government for purposes of specifying exact tax payment amounts; a tax return.countableuncountable

   • Hand in your return within 90 days of the end of the tax year.
8. 8

   A carriage return character.countableuncountable

9. 9

   The act of relinquishing control to the calling procedure.countableuncountable

10. 10

    A return value: the data passed back from a called procedure.countableuncountable