noun · verb · 65 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Australian, Received-Pronunciation:rĭ-tûrnʹ
Australian, Received-Pronunciation:/ɹɪˈtɜːn/
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Canada, General-American:rĭ-tûrnʹ
Canada, General-American:/ɹɪˈtɝn/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Ireland:rĭ-tûrnʹ
Ireland:/ɹəˈtɚːn/
/ɹəˈtʊːɹn/Dublin
South-Asia:/ɾɪˈtə(ɾ)n/
homophone: written
rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)n
CMU ARPABET:R IH0 T ER1 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:R IY0 T ER1 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The act of returning.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
I expect the house to be spotless upon my return.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A return ticket.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
Do you want a one-way or a return?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
An item that is returned, e.g. due to a defect.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: business
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
An answer.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
a return to one’s question
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
An account, or formal report, of an action performed, of a duty discharged, of facts or statistics, etc.; especially, in the plural, a set of tabulated statistics prepared for general information.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
election returns; a return of the amount of goods produced or sold
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
Gain or loss from an investment.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
It yielded a return of 5%.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
A report of income submitted to a government for purposes of specifying exact tax payment amounts; a tax return.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
15
noun
Meaning 15
A short perpendicular extension of a desk, usually slightly lower.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
16
noun
Meaning 16
The continuation in a different direction, most often at a right angle, of a building, face of a building, or any member, such as a moulding; applied to the shorter in contradistinction to the longer.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: architecture
Examples
A facade of sixty feet east and west has a return of twenty feet north and south.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
17
verb
Meaning 17
To come or go back (to a place or person).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Examples
Although the birds fly north for the summer, they return here in winter.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
18
verb
Meaning 18
To go back in thought, narration, or argument.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Examples
To return to my story[...]
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
19
verb
Meaning 19
To recur; to come again.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Examples
Winter returns every year.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
20
verb
Meaning 20
To turn back, retreat.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
21
verb
Meaning 21
To turn (something) round.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
22
verb
Meaning 22
To place or put back something where it had been.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
Please return your hands to your lap.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
23
verb
Meaning 23
To give something back to its original holder or owner.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
You should return the library book within one month.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
24
verb
Meaning 24
To give in requital or recompense; to requite.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
25
verb
Meaning 25
To reciprocate (a visit or telephone call).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
Hello, I’m just returning your call. What did you want to talk about?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
26
verb
Meaning 26
To take back something to a vendor for a complete or partial refund.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
Yeah, it’s $600,000 but, if it doesn’t work, you can always return it. As long as it’s undamaged and in the original packaging, I’ll give you a full refund.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
27
verb
Meaning 27
To bat the ball back over the net in response to a serve.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, sports, tennis
Examples
The player couldn’t return the serve because it was so fast.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
28
verb
Meaning 28
To play a card as a result of another player’s lead.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: card-games, games
Examples
If one players plays a trump, the others must return a trump.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
29
verb
Meaning 29
To throw a ball back to the wicket-keeper (or a fielder at that position) from somewhere in the field.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: take back, bring back
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: bring, convey, take
61
verb
Meaning 61
be inherited by
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
The estate fell to my sister
The land returned to the family
The estate devolved to an heir that everybody had assumed to be dead
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: fall, pass, devolve
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: change hands, change owners
Narrower terms: fall, light
62
verb
Meaning 62
pay back
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
Please refund me my money
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: refund, repay, give back
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: pay
Narrower terms: reimburse, restore, restitute
63
verb
Meaning 63
give back
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
render money
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: render
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: give
Narrower terms: feed back, resubmit
64
verb
Meaning 64
return in kind
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
return a compliment
return her love
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: reciprocate
Narrower terms: redound
65
verb
Meaning 65
elect again
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: reelect
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: elect
History
Etymology
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”). By surface analysis, re- + turn. Compare beturn.
Across languages
Translations
554 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
عَوْدَة
(ʕawda)
— act of returning
Arabic:
رجوع
(ruguuʕ)
— act of returning
Azerbaijani:
qayıdış
— act of returning
Azerbaijani:
geri dönmə
— act of returning
Azerbaijani:
dönüş
— act of returning
Breton:
distro
— act of returning
Bulgarian:
връщане
(vrǎštane)
— act of returning
Catalan:
tornada
— act of returning
Catalan:
retorn
— act of returning
Chinese Mandarin:
歸還 /归还
(guīhuán)
— act of returning
Czech:
návrat
— act of returning
Danish:
tilbagevænding
— act of returning
Danish:
retur
— act of returning
Esperanto:
reveno
— act of returning
Esperanto:
reiro
— act of returning
Finnish:
paluu
— act of returning
Finnish:
palaaminen
— act of returning
French:
retour
— act of returning
West-Frisian:
weromkear
— act of returning
Galician:
volta
— act of returning
Galician:
retorno
— act of returning
Galician:
vida
— act of returning
German:
Rückkehr
— act of returning
Greek:
επιστροφή
(epistrofí)
— act of returning
Hebrew:
החזרה
— act of returning
Hungarian:
visszatérés
— act of returning
Hungarian:
visszaérkezés
— act of returning
Hungarian:
megérkezés
— act of returning
Hungarian:
hazaérkezés
— act of returning
Hungarian:
hazatérés
— act of returning
Hungarian:
visszajövetel
— act of returning
Hungarian:
hazajövetel
— act of returning
Italian:
ritorno
— act of returning
Japanese:
復帰
(fukki)
— act of returning
Japanese:
返却
(henkyaku)
— act of returning
Japanese:
帰還
(kikan)
— act of returning
Central Kurdish:
گەڕانەوە
(gerranewe)
— act of returning
Latin:
reditus
— act of returning
Latin:
regressus
— act of returning
Latin:
revertersio
— act of returning
Latin:
reversio
— act of returning
Latin:
fructus
— act of returning
Māori:
hokianga
— act of returning
Māori:
hokinga
— act of returning
Māori:
waihapenga
— act of returning
Norwegian Bokmål:
retur
— act of returning
Norwegian Nynorsk:
retur
— act of returning
Old English:
edċierr
— act of returning
Persian:
بازگشت
(bâzgašt)
— act of returning
Persian:
برگشت
(bargašt)
— act of returning
Polish:
powrót
— act of returning
Portuguese:
retorno
— act of returning
Portuguese:
volta
— act of returning
Portuguese:
regresso
— act of returning
Romanian:
reîntoarcere
— act of returning
Romanian:
înapoiere
— act of returning
Romanian:
revenire
— act of returning
Russian:
возвраще́ние
(vozvraščénije)
— act of returning
Russian:
возвра́т
(vozvrát)
— act of returning
Scottish Gaelic:
dìoladh
— act of returning
Slovene:
vrnitev
— act of returning
Slovene:
povratek
— act of returning
Spanish:
regreso
— act of returning
Spanish:
retorno
— act of returning
Spanish:
vuelta
— act of returning
Swedish:
återkomst
— act of returning
Swedish:
återvändo
— act of returning
Swedish:
retur
— act of returning
Tagalog:
pagbalik
— act of returning
Tagalog:
pagbabalik
— act of returning
Taos:
mùoliʼíne
— act of returning
Ukrainian:
пове́рнення
(povérnennja)
— act of returning
Bulgarian:
връщане
(vrǎštane)
— act of returning an item
German:
Rückgabe
— act of returning an item
Hungarian:
visszavétel
— act of returning an item
Hungarian:
visszavitel
— act of returning an item
Hungarian:
visszaadás
— act of returning an item
Hungarian:
visszaváltás
— act of returning an item
Hungarian:
visszaszolgáltatás
— act of returning an item
Hungarian:
visszaküldés
— act of returning an item
Indonesian:
retur
— act of returning an item
Spanish:
retrovendición
— act of returning an item
Spanish:
retroventa
— act of returning an item
Spanish:
devolución
— act of returning an item
Ottoman Turkish:
اعاده
(iʼade)
— act of returning an item
Ukrainian:
пове́рнення
(povérnennja)
— act of returning an item
Bulgarian:
връщане
(vrǎštane)
— item that is returned
Danish:
retur
— item that is returned
Finnish:
palautus
— item that is returned
Finnish:
asiakaspalautus
— item that is returned
Hungarian:
visszáru
— item that is returned
Italian:
reso
— item that is returned
Japanese:
返品
(henpin)
— item that is returned
Norwegian Bokmål:
retur
— item that is returned
Norwegian Bokmål:
tilbakeleving
— item that is returned
Persian:
برگشتی
(bargašti)
— item that is returned
Polish:
zwrot
— item that is returned
Russian:
возвра́т
(vozvrát)
— item that is returned
Swedish:
retur
— item that is returned
Ottoman Turkish:
اعاده
(iʼade)
— item that is returned
Bulgarian:
отчет
(otčet)
— formal report, set of tabulated statistics prepared for general information
Bulgarian:
доклад
(doklad)
— formal report, set of tabulated statistics prepared for general information
Danish:
resultat
— formal report, set of tabulated statistics prepared for general information
Finnish:
tulos
— formal report, set of tabulated statistics prepared for general information
Finnish:
tulokset
— formal report, set of tabulated statistics prepared for general information
Finnish:
raportti
— formal report, set of tabulated statistics prepared for general information
German:
Bericht
— formal report, set of tabulated statistics prepared for general information
German:
Wahlbericht
— formal report, set of tabulated statistics prepared for general information
Hungarian:
beszámoló
— formal report, set of tabulated statistics prepared for general information
Hungarian:
jelentés
— formal report, set of tabulated statistics prepared for general information
Norwegian Bokmål:
resultat
— formal report, set of tabulated statistics prepared for general information
Bulgarian:
доход
(dohod)
— finance: gain or loss from an investment
Czech:
návratnost
— finance: gain or loss from an investment
Danish:
afkast
— finance: gain or loss from an investment
Finnish:
tulos
— finance: gain or loss from an investment
French:
rendement
— finance: gain or loss from an investment
French:
rendement
— finance: gain or loss from an investment
Hebrew:
תְּשׁוּאָה
(t'shuá)
— finance: gain or loss from an investment
Hungarian:
hozam
— finance: gain or loss from an investment
Hungarian:
haszon
— finance: gain or loss from an investment
Hungarian:
nyereség
— finance: gain or loss from an investment
Hungarian:
profit
— finance: gain or loss from an investment
Hungarian:
jövedelem
— finance: gain or loss from an investment
Hungarian:
megtérülés
— finance: gain or loss from an investment
Japanese:
利益
(rieki)
— finance: gain or loss from an investment
Latin:
reditus
— finance: gain or loss from an investment
Norwegian Bokmål:
avkastning
— finance: gain or loss from an investment
Norwegian Nynorsk:
avkastning
— finance: gain or loss from an investment
Russian:
отда́ча
(otdáča)
— finance: gain or loss from an investment
Swedish:
avkastning
— finance: gain or loss from an investment