Return meaning
She returned to her office after lunch.
I returned to my knitting after answering the phone.
I said hello to him, and he returned in kind.
We return bottles to the store.
An example of to return is life going back to normal after a chaotic event.
An example of to return is someone bringing a borrowed item back to the owner.
The return of spring.
- The act of hitting or sending the ball back to one's opponent.
- The ball thus sent back.
The return voyage; a return envelope.
A return volley; a return invitation.
A return engagement of the ballet; a return tennis match.
A return plumbing pipe; a return valve.
To return to the subject.
To return a visit, compliment, etc.
Many happy returns of the day.
- An official or formal report, as of the financial condition of a company.
- A report on a count of votes at polling places.Election returns.
- A form on which taxable income is reported and tax is computed.
Return postage.
A return match.
A return performance.
Although the birds fly north for the summer, they return here in winter.
You should return the library book within one month.
If the goods don't work, you can return them.
This function returns the number of files in the directory.
I expect the house to be spotless upon my return.
Do you want a one-way or a return?
Last year there were 250 returns of this product, an improvement on the 500 returns the year before.
It yielded a return of 5%.
Hand in your return by the end of the tax year.
- In repayment or reciprocation.
- As a return; as an equivalent, response, etc.
Origin of return
- Middle English retornen from Old French retourner from Vulgar Latin retornāre Latin re- re- Latin tornāre to turn in a lathe turn
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- 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.
From Wiktionary