/ rɪˈtɜːn; NAmE rɪˈtɜːrn/ verb , noun
■ verb
COME / GO BACK
1.
[ v ] return (to ... ) (from ... ) to come or go back from one place to another :
I waited a long time for him to return.
She's returning to Australia tomorrow after six months in Europe.
I returned from work to find the house empty.
When did she return home from the trip?
BRING / GIVE BACK
2.
return sb/sth (to sb/sth) to bring, give, put or send sth back to sb/sth :
[ vn ]
We had to return the hairdryer to the store because it was faulty.
I must return some books to the library.
Don't forget to return my pen!
[ vn - adj ]
I returned the letter unopened.
OF FEELING / QUALITY
3.
[ v ] to come back again
SYN reappear , resurface :
The following day the pain returned.
Her suspicions returned when things started going missing again.
TO PREVIOUS SUBJECT / ACTIVITY
4.
[ v ] return (to sth) to start discussing a subject you were discussing earlier, or doing an activity you were doing earlier :
He returns to this topic later in the report.
She looked up briefly then returned to her sewing.
The doctor may allow her to return to work next week.
TO PREVIOUS STATE
5.
[ v ] return to sth to go back to a previous state :
Train services have returned to normal after the strike.
DO / GIVE THE SAME
6.
[ vn ] to do or give sth to sb because they have done or given the same to you first; to have the same feeling about sb that they have about you :
to return a favour / greeting / stare
She phoned him several times but he was too busy to return her call .
It's time we returned their invitation (= invite them to sth as they invited us to sth first) .
He did not return her love.
'You were both wonderful!' 'So were you!' we said, returning the compliment .
to return fire (= to shoot at sb who is shooting at you)
IN TENNIS
7.
[ vn ] to hit the ball back to your opponent during a game :
to return a service / shot
A VERDICT
8.
[ vn ] return a verdict to give a decision about sth in court :
The jury returned a verdict of not guilty.
ELECT POLITICIAN
9.
[ vn ] [ usually passive ] return sb (to sth) | return sb (as sth) ( BrE ) to elect sb to a political position
PROFIT / LOSS
10.
[ vn ] ( business ) to give or produce a particular amount of money as a profit or loss :
to return a high rate of interest
Last year the company returned a loss of £157 million.
■ noun
COMING BACK
1.
[ sing. ] return (to ... ) (from ... ) the action of arriving in or coming back to a place that you were in before :
He was met by his brother on his return from Italy.
I saw the play on its return to Broadway.
on the return flight / journey / trip
GIVING / SENDING BACK
2.
[ U , sing. ] the action of giving, putting or sending sth/sb back :
We would appreciate the prompt return of books to the library.
The judge ordered the return of the child to his mother.
Write your return address (= the address that a reply should be sent to) on the back of the envelope.
OF FEELING / STATE
3.
[ sing. ] return (of sth) the situation when a feeling or state that has not been experienced for some time starts again
SYN reappearance :
the return of spring
a return of my doubts
TO PREVIOUS SITUATION / ACTIVITY
4.
[ sing. ] return to sth the action of going back to an activity or a situation that you used to do or be in :
his return to power
They appealed for a return to work (= after a strike) .
PROFIT
5.
[ U , C ] the amount of profit that you get from sth
SYN earnings , yield :
a high rate of return on capital
farmers seeking to improve returns from their crops
OFFICIAL REPORT
6.
[ C ] an official report or statement that gives particular information to the government or another body :
census returns
election returns (= the number of votes for each candidate in an election)
—see also tax return
TICKET
7.
[ C ] ( BrE ) = return ticket :
'Brighton, please.' 'Single or return?'
A return is cheaper than two singles.
the return fare to London
—see also day return
8.
[ C ] a ticket for the theatre or a sports game that was bought by sb but is given back to be sold again
ON COMPUTER
9.
[ U ] (also reˈturn key [ C ]) the button that you press on a computer when you reach the end of an instruction, or to begin a new line :
To exit this option, press return.
IN TENNIS
10.
[ C ] ( in tennis and some other sports ) the action of hitting the ball, etc. back to your opponent :
a powerful return of serve
•
IDIOMS
- by return (of post)
- in return (for sth)
—more at happy , point noun , sale noun
••
SYNONYMS
return
come back ♦ go back ♦ get back ♦ turn back
These words all mean to come or go back from one place to another.
return
to come or go back from one place to another:
I waited a long time for him to return.
NOTE
Return is slightly more formal than the other words in this group, and is used more often in writing or formal speech.
come back
to return.
NOTE
Come back is usually used from the point of view of the person or place that sb returns to:
Come back and visit again soon!
go back
to return to the place you recently or originally came from or that you have been to before.
NOTE
Go back is usually used from the point of view of the person who is returning:
Do you ever want to go back to China?
get back
to arrive back somewhere, especially at your home or the place where you are staying:
What time did you get back last night?
turn back
to return the way that you came, especially because sth stops you from continuing:
The weather got so bad that we had to turn back.
PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS :
to return / come back / go back / get back to / from / with sth
to come back / go back / get back outside / upstairs / down , etc.
to return / come back / go back / get back / turn back again
to return / come back / go back / get back home / to work
to return / come back / get back safely
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : the verb from Old French returner , from Latin re- back + tornare to turn; the noun via Anglo-Norman French .