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return

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verb British English pronunciation: return /rɪˈtɜː(r)n/ 
Word Forms
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present tense
I/you/we/theyreturn
he/she/itreturns
present participlereturning
past tensereturned
past participlereturned
Other entries for this word
 
  1. 1
    [intransitive] to go back to a place where you were earlier, or to come back from a place where you have just been

    One day she just walked out and never returned.

    return to:

    Be careful. We want you to return to base in one piece.

    return from:

    And when do you return from Paris?

    return home:

    He returned home around midnight.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of return
    1. a.
      if a feeling or situation returns, it starts to happen again

      I see that the good weather has returned.

      If the nausea returns, take one of these pills.

      doubts/fears/suspicions return:

      All my fears returned when I realized he'd gone to see her again.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of return
  2. 2
    [transitive] to put, send, or take something back to the place where it came from

    She had to return the dress because it didn't fit.

    return something to someone:

    Please complete the questionnaire and return it to the personnel department.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of return
  3. 3
    [transitive] to do or say something to someone that is similar to something that they have done or said to you

    I waved and called to her, and she returned my greeting.

    I'm sorry I wasn't able to return your phone call earlier.

    return the favour (=help someone because they have helped you):

    Thanks for helping me. I'll try to return the favour some day.

    return someone's fire (=shoot at someone who has shot at you):

    As soon as we started shooting, the enemy returned our fire.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of return
    See also  compliment1
  4. 4
    [transitive] to produce a particular amount of profit on money that has been invested

    The £10,000 she invested returned a handsome profit.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of return
  5. 5
    [intransitive/transitive] to hit a ball back to your opponent in a game such as tennis

    Agassi usually returns serve very well.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of return
  6. 6
    [transitive] to elect someone to a position, especially in parliament
    return someone to something:

    The voters returned her to parliament last year.

    return someone to office:

    It seems unlikely that the President will be returned to office.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of return

phrase

phrasal verbs

This is the British English definition of return. View American English definition of return.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to American English.

View the pronunciation for return.

 

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