return
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: enpr: rĭ-tûrnʹ
ipa: /ɹɪˈtɜːn/
enpr: rĭ-tûrnʹ
ipa: /ɹɪˈtɝn/
enpr: rĭ-tûrnʹ
ipa: /ɹəˈtɚːn/
note: Dublin
ipa: /ɹəˈtʊːɹn/
note: Indic
ipa: /ɾɪˈtə(ɾ)n/
homophone: written
rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)n
Forms: form: returns
form: returning
form: returned
form: returned
form: no-table-tags
form: glossary
form: return
form: return
form: returned
form: return
form: returnest
form: returned
form: returnedst
form: returns
form: returneth
form: returned
form: return
form: returned
form: return
form: returned
form: return
form: -
form: returning
form: returned
form: returne
form: retvrn
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”). Compare beturn.
Senses: examples: text: Although the birds fly north for the summer, they return here in winter.
text: The Celebrity, by arts unknown, induced Mrs. Judge Short and two other ladies to call at Mohair on a certain afternoon when Mr. Cooke was trying a trotter on the track. The three returned wondering and charmed with Mrs. Cooke; they were sure she had had no hand in the furnishing of that atrocious house.
ref: 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC, page 58:
text: "I came through and I shall return," General MacArthur declared when he spoke at Terowie of the beleagured Philippines.
ref: 1942, “'I Came Through; I Shall Return'”, in The Advertiser:
text: As soon as Julia returned with a constable, Timothy, who was on the point of exhaustion, prepared to give over to him gratefully. The newcomer turned out to be a powerful youngster, fully trained and eager to help, and he stripped off his tunic at once.
ref: 1963, Margery Allingham, “Meeting Point”, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC, page 232:
glosses: To come or go back (to a place or person).
examples: text: To return to my story[…]
glosses: To go back in thought, narration, or argument.
examples: text: Winter returns every year.
glosses: To recur; to come again.
examples: text: ‘I suppose here is none woll be glad to returne – and as for me,’ seyde Sir Cador, ‘I had lever dye this day that onys to turne my bak.’
ref: 1470–1485 (date produced), Thomas Malory, “(please specify the chapter)”, in [Le Morte Darthur], book V, [London: […] by William Caxton], published 31 July 1485, →OCLC; republished as H[einrich] Oskar Sommer, editor, Le Morte Darthur […], London: David Nutt, […], 1889, →OCLC:
glosses: To turn back, retreat.
examples: text: Whan Kyng Marke harde hym sey that worde, he returned his horse and abode by hym.
ref: 1470–1485 (date produced), Thomas Malory, “Capitulum xiij”, in [Le Morte Darthur], book X, [London: […] by William Caxton], published 31 July 1485, →OCLC; republished as H[einrich] Oskar Sommer, editor, Le Morte Darthur […], London: David Nutt, […], 1889, →OCLC:
glosses: To turn (something) round.
examples: text: Please return your hands to your lap.
glosses: To place or put back something where it had been.
examples: text: You should return the library book within one month.
glosses: To give something back to its original holder or owner.
examples: text: […]the Lord ſhall returne thy wickedneſſe vpon thine owne head.
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Kings 2:44, column 2:
glosses: To give in requital or recompense; to requite.
examples: text: Hello, I'm just returning your call. What did you want to talk about?
glosses: To reciprocate (a visit or telephone call).
examples: text: 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.
glosses: To take back something to a vendor for a complete or partial refund.
examples: text: The player couldn't return the serve because it was so fast.
topics: hobbies
lifestyle
sports
tennis
glosses: To bat the ball back over the net in response to a serve.
examples: text: If one players plays a trump, the others must return a trump.
topics: card-games
games
glosses: To play a card as a result of another player's lead.
topics: ball-games
cricket
games
hobbies
lifestyle
sports
glosses: To throw a ball back to the wicket-keeper (or a fielder at that position) from somewhere in the field.
examples: text: to return an answer;  to return thanks;  "Do it yourself!" she returned.
text: “No!” returned the spy. “I throw up. I confess that we were so unpopular with the outrageous mob, that I only got away from England at the risk of being ducked to death […]
ref: 1859, Charles Dickens, “A Hand at Cards”, in A Tale of Two Cities, London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC, book III (The Track of a Storm), page 205:
text: “Ah my good friend, I do look out,” the young man returned while Maisie helped herself afresh to bread and butter.
ref: 1897 October 16, Henry James, chapter XII, in What Maisie Knew, Chicago, Ill.; New York, N.Y.: Herbert S. Stone & Co., →OCLC, page 132:
glosses: To say in reply; to respond.
topics: computing
engineering
mathematics
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
sciences
glosses: To relinquish control to the calling procedure.
examples: text: This function returns the number of files in the directory.
topics: computing
engineering
mathematics
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
sciences
glosses: To pass (data) back to the calling procedure.
examples: text: to return the lie
text: And now, if you are a Malicious Reader, I expect you ſhould return upon me, that I affect to be thought more Impartial than I am.
ref: 1681, [John Dryden], “To the Reader”, in Absalom and Achitophel. A Poem. […], 3rd edition, London: […] J[acob] T[onson] and are to be sold by W. Davis […], published 1682, →OCLC:
glosses: To retort; to throw back.
examples: text: to return the result of an election
text: And all the people anſwered together, [...] and Moſes returned the wordes of the people vnto the Lord.
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 19:8, column 2:
glosses: To report, or bring back and make known.
glosses: To elect according to the official report of the election officers.
raw_tags: in the US
topics: fencing
government
hobbies
lifestyle
martial-arts
military
politics
sports
war
glosses: To give a thrust or cut after parrying a sword-thrust.
Synonyms: sense: undo a purchase
word: revend
word: give back
word: reinstate
word: render
word: restore
word: return
word: revest
word: surrender
Hypernyms: word: give
Derived terms: return back
return evil for evil
return fire
returning officer
return the favor
return to dust
return to one's muttons
return to one's senses
Related terms: sense: Terms related to the verb "return"
word: return to form
word: compensate
word: indemnify
word: reimburse