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Glite Dictionary
to return to roost

to return to roost

1 4.8
Come back to the place where birds sleep after being away
  • phrasal verb
: volver al nido
  • The birds return to roost at sunset.

Examples

  • Every evening, the sparrows return to roost in the old oak tree.

  • As dusk fell, the chickens returned to roost inside their coop.

  • Dozens of crows return to roost in the same spot near the river each night.

  • Every evening, the sparrows return to roost in the old oak tree.

  • As the sun began to set, all the birds returned to roost in the safety of the tall trees.

  • Every evening, the flock of geese flies home to return to roost in their chosen spot near the lake.

  • After a long day of foraging, the sparrows return to roost in the cozy barn for the night.

Synonyms

to go home
vsto return to roost
∞ 1.0

To return to the place where you live

describes birds arriving to sleep at their usual resting place not a residence
to come again
vsto return to roost
420 2.1

To return to a place or situation after a short time away

refers to birds arriving specifically to sleep at their resting spot after absence
to roost
vsto return to roost
20 4.2

To rest or sleep in a high place like a tree

arrive at the sleeping place after being away to sleep
to home
vsto return to roost
  • Specialized
3 7.0

To return to the place where an animal was born or lives

focuses on coming to sleep at a resting spot rather than precise navigation

Antonyms

to leave
∞ 1.0

To go away from a place, person, or group

How Regularly

to return to roost
1 4.8
to come again
420 2.1

Surface Forms

return to roost infinitive
returned to roost past
returned to roost past participle
returning to roost present participle
returns to roost third person singular

Morphology

return + to + roost

The meaning is directly and transparently derived from 'return' (to go back) + 'to' + 'roost' (a place where birds sleep); a learner who knows those constituents can infer it means birds coming back to their sleeping place. This verb + prepositional-phrase composition is cross-linguistically common and follows standard English patterns, making it predictable for a B1 learner.

Etymology

Return to roost comes from watching birds: in the evening they return to their roost, a safe place to sleep after a day of feeding. So the phrase means 'to come back to a resting place'.