# returns

/ɹiˈtɝnz/ (US) · /ɹɪtˈɜːnz/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. items sent back to a shop

noun · CEFR B1

products that customers bring or send back to a shop because they are not wanted or are broken.

For teachers: merchandise returned by a consumer to a retailer or by a retailer to a wholesaler, typically for a refund or exchange.

- The shop has a special desk for customer returns and complaints.
- The logistics manager noted a significant spike in returns following the holiday season, primarily due to sizing errors in the online catalogue.

### 2. financial profit

noun · CEFR B2

the amount of profit you get from an investment.

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

- Investors are looking for high returns on their savings accounts.
- While the initial capital requirement was substantial, the projected annual returns justified the risk for the venture capital firm.

### 3. official reports

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

official forms or reports, especially about taxes or election results.

For teachers: formal reports or statements of results, often in a legal, electoral, or fiscal context.

- The election returns showed that the local candidate had won by a small margin.
- The company was penalised for failing to submit its annual tax returns before the statutory deadline.

### 4. military report

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

an official list of soldiers who are healthy and ready to fight.

For teachers: a formal account or report of the number of soldiers fit for duty within a specific unit.

- The general checked the daily returns to see how many men were available.
- The adjutant spent the evening compiling the monthly returns, accounting for every soldier currently stationed at the garrison.

## Examples

- The company expects high returns on its latest technology investment.
- The retail giant struggled to manage the high volume of returns during the week following the holiday sales.
- While the initial capital outlay was significant, the projected long-term returns justified the risk of entering an emerging market with high volatility.

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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.