return

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English [edit]

Etymology [edit]

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”). Compare beturn.

Pronunciation [edit]

Verb [edit]

return (third-person singular simple present returns, present participle returning, simple past and past participle returned)

  1. (intransitive) To come or go back (to a place or person).
    Although the birds fly north for the summer, they return here in winter.
  2. (intransitive) To go back in thought, narration, or argument.
    To return to my story...
  3. (intransitive, obsolete) To turn back, retreat.
    • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book V:
      ‘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.’
  4. (transitive, obsolete) To turn (something) round.
    • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book X:
      Whan Kyng Marke harde hym sey that worde, he returned his horse and abode by hym.
  5. (transitive) To put (place) something back where it had been.
    Please return your hands to your lap.
  6. (transitive) To give something back to its original holder or owner.
    You should return the library book within one month.
  7. (transitive) To take something back to a retailer for a refund.
    If the goods don't work, you can return them.
  8. (tennis) To bat the ball back over the net in response to a serve.
    The player couldn't return the serve because it was so fast.
  9. (card games) To play a card as a result of another player's lead.
    If one players plays a trump, the others must return a trump.
  10. (cricket) To throw a ball back to the wicket-keeper (or a fielder at that position) from somewhere in the field.
  11. (transitive) To say in reply; to respond.
    • 1897, Henry James, What Maisie Knew:
      ‘Ah my good friend, I do look out!’ the young man returned while Maisie helped herself afresh to bread and butter.
  12. (intransitive, computing) To relinquish control to the calling procedure.
  13. (transitive, computing) To pass (data) back to the calling procedure.
    This function returns the number of files in the directory.

Derived terms [edit]

Terms derived from the verb "return"

Translations [edit]

to give something back to its original holder or owner
to take something back to a retailer for a refund
to come back after some period of time, or at regular intervals
to go back in thought, narration, or argument
tennis: to bat the ball back over the net in response to a serve
card games: to play a card as a result of another player's lead
cricket: to throw a ball back to the wicket-keeper
computing: to relinquish control to the calling procedure
computing: to pass back (data) to the calling procedure
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked

Noun [edit]

return (plural returns)

  1. The act of returning.
    "I expect the house to be spotless upon my return."
  2. A return ticket.
    Do you want a one-way or return?
  3. An item that is returned, e.g. due to a defect.
    Last year there were 250 returns of this product, an improvement on the 500 returns the year before.
  4. (finance) Gain or loss from an investment.
    It yielded a return of 5%.
    • 2012 April 22, Sam Sheringham, “Liverpool 0-1 West Brom”, BBC Sport:
      Liverpool have now won only five of their 17 home league games this season. It is a poor return for a team of Liverpool's pedigree and resources but, once again, Kenny Dalglish's team were the instigators of their own downfall as chance after chance went begging.
  5. (taxation, finance): A report of income submitted to a government for purposes of specifying exact tax payment amounts. A tax return.
    Hand in your return by the end of the tax year.
  6. (computing) A carriage return character.
  7. (computing) The act of relinquishing control to the calling procedure.
  8. (computing) A return value: the data passed back from a called procedure.
  9. A short perpendicular extension of a desk, usually slightly lower.
  10. (American football) Catching a ball after a punt and running it back towards the opposing team.
  11. (cricket) A throw from a fielder to the wicket-keeper or to another fielder at the wicket.

Synonyms [edit]

Derived terms [edit]

Terms derived from the noun "return"

Translations [edit]

act of returning
return ticket
item that is returned
finance: gain or loss from an investment
finance: tax return
computing: carriage return character
computing: act of relinquishing control to the calling procedure
computing: return value
short perpendicular extension of a desk
American football
cricket
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked

Statistics [edit]

Anagrams [edit]

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