# returning

/ɹiˈtɝnɪŋ/ (US) · /ɹɪtˈɜːnɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/returning
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. coming back

verb · CEFR A2

coming back to a place you were at before.

For teachers: the act of coming back to a previous location or state; used as a present participle to indicate ongoing motion.

- The birds are returning to the park now that spring has arrived.
- Returning to the village after twenty years, he found that the quiet lanes of his childhood had been replaced by busy paved roads.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'to'.

### 2. giving back

verb · CEFR B1

giving or sending something back to its owner or where it belongs.

For teachers: the act of restoring or giving back an item to its original possessor or location.

- I am returning these library books because they are already overdue.
- The customer service department is currently returning all faulty units to the manufacturer for a full technical inspection.

Usage: Transitive verb taking a direct object.

### 3. the act of coming back

noun · CEFR B1

the event of someone or something coming back.

For teachers: the action or instance of coming back to a place or a previous condition.

- The fans celebrated the player's returning to the team after his injury.
- The returning of the stolen artifacts to their country of origin was a significant diplomatic victory for the ministry.

## Examples

- She is returning home after a long day at work.
- The customer is returning the damaged goods to the store to request a full refund.
- After years of living abroad, he found himself returning to his hometown, only to discover that the familiar landmarks of his youth had been replaced by modern developments.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.