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return

v. · n.
US //ɹiˈtɝn// re·turn
  1. 1 to go back (v.)
    A1 Beginner

    to come or go back to a place where you were before.

    to come or go back to a previous place, person, or state. Intransitive in this sense.

    Example

    We decided to return to the hotel because it started to rain.

    Example

    After a decade of living in the capital, he felt a profound urge to return to the quiet coastal village where he was raised.
  2. 2 to give back (v.)
    A1 Beginner

    to give or send something back to the person who owns it.

    to restore something to its original owner, holder, or place. Transitive — requires a direct object.

    Example

    Don't forget to return your library books on time.

    Example

    The customer requested to return the defective laptop for a full refund after discovering the screen was cracked.
    Pitfall
    I will return back the book tomorrow.
    I will return the book tomorrow.

    Do not use 'back' with 'return' when it means giving something back, as the word 'return' already includes that meaning.

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  1. 3 to respond (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to do or say something in response to someone else.

    to say something in reply or to reciprocate an action, such as a greeting or a phone call.

    Example

    I need to return her call before the office closes.

    Example

    She returned his smile with a polite nod, though she couldn't quite remember where they had met before.
  2. 4 the act of going back (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    the act of coming back to a place or a previous situation.

    the occurrence of coming or going back to a place or state.

    Example

    Everyone was excited about the hero's return to the city.

    Example

    The sudden return of the symptoms concerned the doctors, as the patient had been stable for several weeks.
  3. 5 financial profit (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Finance

    the profit or money you get back from an investment.

    the gain or loss generated on an investment relative to the amount of money invested.

    Example

    The savings account offers a very low return on your money.

    Example

    Investors are seeking a higher rate of return to compensate for the increased risks associated with emerging markets.
  4. 6 official report (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Formal Law

    an official document or report, especially about taxes.

    a formal report or statement of statistics or facts, most commonly used for tax declarations.

    Example

    You must send your tax return to the government by April.

    Example

    The company filed its annual returns late, resulting in a significant financial penalty from the regulatory body.
  5. 7 travel ticket (n.)
    A2 Elementary British English

    a ticket that lets you travel to a place and back again.

    a ticket valid for a journey to a destination and back to the starting point.

    Example

    A return to London is much cheaper than two single tickets.

    Example

    The commuter purchased a monthly return, finding it more economical than paying the daily peak-time fare.

    Usage

    In American English, this is almost always called a 'round-trip ticket'.
    • round trip ticket
  6. 8 computing key (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Computing

    the key on a keyboard that you press to start a new line.

    a key on a computer keyboard used to terminate a line of text or execute a command.

    Example

    Type your password and then press return.

    Example

    The programmer noted that the script failed to execute because the carriage return character was missing from the end of the file.
Origin

From Middle English returnen, retornen, from Anglo-Norman returner, from Old French retourner, retorner, from Medieval Latin retornare (“to turn back”), from re- + tornare (“to turn”). By surface analysis, re- + turn. Compare beturn.

Idioms3 entries

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