return
A1 (verb), B2 (noun in business contexts)Neutral to formal, depending on context. Widely used across all registers.
Definition
Meaning
To go or come back to a previous place, state, or condition; to give, send, or put something back.
In finance, the profit from an investment. In computing, a key that creates a new line or executes a command. In law, an official report or submission. In sports, the act of sending a ball back in play.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a verb, it is transitive and intransitive. As a noun, it often implies a cyclical or reciprocal process (e.g., 'return on investment', 'return of service').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor. In UK English, 'return' is the common term for a round-trip ticket. US English prefers 'round-trip ticket', though 'return ticket' is understood. In official/government contexts, the UK uses 'tax return', while the US uses 'tax return' or 'tax form'.
Connotations
Largely identical. The financial 'return' has a positive connotation of gain. 'To return fire' carries a militaristic connotation.
Frequency
The verb is extremely high-frequency in both varieties. The noun in the sense of a 'ticket' is significantly more frequent in UK English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
return [to NP] (intransitive)return NP (transitive)return NP to NP (ditransitive)return as NP (e.g., return as a hero)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Many happy returns!”
- “Point of no return”
- “Return to sender”
- “Return with interest”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to profit or yield (ROI - Return on Investment), or the act of sending goods back to a seller.
Academic
Used in discussions of cyclical processes, historical recurrences, or methodological sections (e.g., 'We will return to this point later').
Everyday
Common for coming back from a trip, giving something back, or repaying a favour.
Technical
In programming, a statement that exits a function and optionally passes a value back to the caller.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She will return from holiday next Tuesday.
- Please return the library books by Friday.
- He hopes to return to politics one day.
American English
- He returned the defective product for a full refund.
- The team returned to practice after the break.
- She returned the serve with powerful topspin.
adverb
British English
- [Rare as a standalone adverb. Typically 'on the return' or 'on my/your return'.]
American English
- [Rare as a standalone adverb. Typically 'on the return' or 'on my/your return'.]
adjective
British English
- We booked a return ticket to Edinburgh.
- The return journey was quicker.
- He made a return appearance on the show.
American English
- Please include a return envelope.
- The return address was smudged.
- Her return flight was delayed.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I return home at six o'clock.
- Did you return your friend's pencil?
- He bought a return ticket to London.
- The weather is expected to return to normal by the weekend.
- In return for her help, I offered to babysit.
- What is the expected return on this investment?
- After years abroad, she returned to her native country a changed person.
- The court ordered the company to return the stolen funds.
- His latest film marks a triumphant return to form.
- The politician's attempt to return to public life was met with scepticism by the press.
- The algorithm iterates until the error margin returns a value below the threshold.
- The study posits a cyclical return of these economic conditions every seventy years.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of RE-TURN: to TURN back to where you were or to TURN something back to its owner.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A JOURNEY (returning to one's roots); COMMUNICATION IS AN EXCHANGE OF OBJECTS (return a call/favour).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse 'return' (вернуть, возвращаться) with 'turn' (поворачивать).
- The noun 'a return' can mean 'обратный билет', not just 'возвращение'.
- The phrase 'in return' means 'в ответ', 'взамен', not literally 'в возвращении'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: *'I returned back home.' (redundant) Correct: 'I returned home.'
- Incorrect preposition: *'Return at home.' Correct: 'Return home' or 'Return to the house.'
- Confusing verb patterns: 'He returned the book' (gave it back) vs. 'He returned to reading the book' (resumed the activity).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'return' used in a specifically financial context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is redundant. 'Return' already means 'to go or come back', so 'back' is unnecessary. Simply say 'return home' or 'return to the office'.
'Give back' is a more informal phrasal verb and is almost always transitive. 'Return' is more formal and can be both transitive and intransitive. They are often interchangeable for the 'give back' meaning, but not for the 'go back' meaning.
'In return' is a phrase meaning 'as an exchange or reciprocal action'. It's often used with 'for': 'She helped me move, so I cooked her dinner in return,' or 'He offered his expertise in return for a share of the profits.'
Yes, it is a very common deverbal noun (a noun derived from a verb). As a verb: 'I will return the book.' As a noun: 'We saw the return of the swallows' or 'He filed his tax return.'
Collections
Part of a collection
Daily Routine
A1 · 50 words · Words for describing your everyday activities and schedule.
Shopping
A2 · 50 words · Vocabulary for buying and selling goods.