Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to return from the dead

to return from the dead

5 7.9
To come back to life or appear again after people thought it was gone
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : volver de entre los muertos
  • It's as if you've returned from the dead.
  • miraculously returns from the dead
  • Gerald returned from the dead
  • Jesus returned from the dead

But even even worse than that, the scene in Mark where Jesus returns from the dead and shows the the disciples that he's he's risen, that's not in the oldest manuscripts.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • "Hey, things are really looking up now that Gerald's returned from the dead."

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Do not forget it was by my power you returned from the dead.

    Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)

  • I died and returned from the dead?

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Explain how a man returns from the dead.

    Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny (2016)

  • "Gerald has returned from the dead."

    Fiction book (1994)

  • After all of these years, the Sorceress has somehow returned from the dead.

    Tales of an Ancient Empire (2010)

  • The Bible's full of, of tales and references of people returning from the dead.

    Death Valley: The Revenge of Bloody Bill (2004)

  • There's been a story nearly every day since our brother Gerald returned from the dead a couple of weeks ago and moved in with Mother.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Legend has it that Bradford will return from the dead to reclaim the cult Caninus and lead its followers into power here on earth.

    Revenge (1986)

  • In the story, the hero seemed to return from the dead after a fierce battle, much to everyone's surprise.

Synonyms

to rise
vsto return from the dead
  • Literature
111 8.5

To come back to life after death

covers literal revival and later visible presence after being gone
to reappear
vsto return from the dead
70 2.7

To come back into sight after being away for a time

is more specific, referring to revival from death rather than general reappearance
to rise again
vsto return from the dead
35 5.7

Come back to life or return to activity after a time away

is broader, also used for nonliteral or less direct returns to life or presence
to resurface
vsto return from the dead
34 4.2

To appear again after being hidden or inactive

centres on actual revival or living return rather than only appearing again
to reincarnate
vsto return from the dead
15 7.7

To be born again in another body after death

refers to direct revival into the same life or visible presence rather than rebirth
to come back from the dead
vsto return from the dead
  • Informal
15 5.5

Become successful or active again after a long time away

is the literal act of becoming alive again rather than metaphorical recovery
to rematerialize
vsto return from the dead
  • US
4 9.3

To appear again after being gone or invisible

includes both physical revival and simple returns to visibility or presence
to respawn
vsto return from the dead
  • Jargon
2 6.4

To appear again in the game after being defeated

applies across real and fictional contexts, not only games
to re-emerge
vsto return from the dead
5.0

To appear again after being hidden or gone

focuses more on revival or return to life rather than mere visibility

How Complete

to return from the dead
5 7.9
to come back
∞ 1.3
to reappear
70 2.7

Surface Forms

return from the dead infinitive
returned from the dead past
returned from the dead past participle
returning from the dead present participle
returns from the dead third person singular

Morphology

return + from + the + dead

The meaning 'to come back to life or reappear after being thought dead' is directly derivable from combining 'return' (to come back) with the prepositional origin 'from' and 'the dead' (those not alive). This composition is literal/metaphorical but follows a transparent, cross-linguistically common pattern, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Return from the dead paints a clear picture: someone who was thought dead suddenly returns to life, like a story character who appears again after everyone believed they were gone. So, it means 'to come back to life' or 'to reappear after being thought gone'.