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return

return

231 1.0
An act of giving something back to its owner
  • noun
  • /rɪˈtɜrn/
translation icon : devolución
  • Left-behind parents also incur significant financial expenses trying to locate and secure the return of their abducted children.
  • demand the return
  • return of land

And until they don't get their return, that's when they'll probably continue.

Examples

  • And I totally bought a return ticket.

  • The point of no return.

  • Can I get a return flight to Atlanta tonight?

  • I had lost my sight, but I got something back in return.

  • Patty had left it behind to await her return on the pillow of her little bed.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Unfortunately, the problem of the return and protection of the Serbian national minority remained unsolved.

    Academic text (1999)
  • After borrowing her friend's book, she finally made the return to the library to give it back.

  • His return to the team after injury was celebrated by his teammates at the game.

  • We were excited to witness the return of the popular festival after two years of cancellations.

Synonyms

recovery
vsreturn
131 3.2

Getting back things that were lost or stolen

focuses more on simple acts of giving or getting items back
restitution
vsreturn
  • Specialized
38 6.9

Giving back something lost or paying money for damage

is the simple act of giving or getting items back without repair or payment
redemption
vsreturn
  • Formal
5 6.0

Buying back something you sold or left with someone to get money

is broader and applies to many nonfinancial situations of giving or getting back
retrieval
vsreturn
5 3.9

Getting back something that was lost or stolen

is broader, covering both giving back and getting items from others
clawback
vsreturn
  • Specialized
2 8.8

To take back money already paid, often by law

is the broad act of handing or receiving items back, not only money or legal cases
recapture
vsreturn
1 5.7

The act of taking back something lost, for example land or a title

is a neutral act that may involve asking or handing items back rather than taking
regaining
vsreturn
3.5

Getting something back after you lost or gave it away

also includes the act of giving something back to its owner
reacquisition
vsreturn
7.2

Getting something back that was once lost, sold, or given away

covers that act but also ordinary borrowing situations and casual returns
giveback
vsreturn
  • US
4.7

The return of money or property to its previous owner

is the general act of handing or receiving items back in many situations
retrocession
vsreturn
  • Formal
9.9

The return of land or rights to a former owner

is more general and not limited to former ownership or formal authority
retaking
vsreturn
5.1

An action of getting control or ownership back

is not limited to control or opportunities and includes simple returned items

Antonyms

67 1.1

Something lost after an accident or theft

Idioms

330 2.4

To do something for someone because they did something for you

to return to dust
  • Literature
1 8.3

To slowly fall apart and disappear over time

Get back to a previous good level of ability after a time of decline

8.4

Send something as soon as possible by the next post

To go back to the main topic or task after a distraction

Compounds

76 3.2

An official paper you send to the tax office that shows your income to work out tax

The sender's details on an envelope that show where to send it back if not delivered

A moment in a process after which you cannot go back

return on investment
  • Specialized
15 3.5

How much money you gain from putting money into something, shown as a percent

rate of return
  • Specialized
14 4.8

Profit or loss on an investment shown as a percent of its cost

8 3.6

A form you send to the tax office showing your income and expenses

5 1.0

A ticket that lets you go to a place and return on the same route

joint return
  • Formal
3 5.6

A tax return that a married couple files together to report their combined income and deductions

amended return
  • Specialized
1 6.4

A tax form sent to correct information filed earlier with the tax office

happy return
  • Archaic
1 5.1

A wish that someone will enjoy many happy birthdays

carriage return
  • Specialized
1 7.0

A key or action that moves the cursor to the start of a new line

1 2.3

A ticket to travel to a place and back on the same day

1 2.1

A key on a keyboard that moves the cursor to a new line or starts a new command

estimated tax return
  • Specialized
7.0

A form to pay tax you expect to owe when not enough tax is taken from your pay

exponential return
  • Specialized
7.2

A change that grows or falls faster over time by a fixed percent

false return
  • Jargon
9.1

A tax report that gives untrue information to avoid paying tax

false return
  • Specialized
7.3

A function result of false that shows the action failed

6.8

A document sent to the tax office that reports financial transactions without calculating tax owed

return of post
  • Archaic
8.5

A reply by mail sent on the next delivery

5.3

A percent showing how well a company makes profit from the money put into it

How Formal

reversion
  • Formal
1 9.2
restitution
  • Specialized
38 6.9
recession
  • Formal
8.0
return
231 1.0
giveback
  • US
4.7

Surface Forms

return singular
returns plural

Etymology

Return originally meant a 'turning back', so a return is the act of giving something back after it has been taken or borrowed.