Word finder Dictionaryreturn

ENGLISH THESAURUS & DICTIONARY

return

noun · verb

Words like return

Compare the definitions to choose the right meaning.

182 words · noun, verbSort by

Synonymverb

Synonymverb

Synonymnoun

Synonymverb

Synonymverb

Synonymverb

Synonymnoun / verb

Synonymnoun / verb

Synonymnoun / verb

Synonymverb

Synonymnoun / verb

Synonymverb

Synonymnoun

Synonymnoun

Synonymverb

Synonymverb

Synonymverb

Synonymverb

Related words aren’t always interchangeable. Check the definition before you choose.

MEANING & USAGE

Definitions & examples

01noun

document giving the tax collector information about the taxpayer's tax liability

“his gross income was enough that he had to file a tax return”

02noun

a coming to or returning home

“on his return from Australia we gave him a welcoming party”

03noun

the occurrence of a change in direction back in the opposite direction

04noun

getting something back again

“upon the restitution of the book to its rightful owner the child was given a tongue lashing”

25 more meanings

05noun

the act of going back to a prior location

“they set out on their return to the base camp”

06noun

the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property

“the average return was about 5%”

07noun

happening again (especially at regular intervals)

“the return of spring”

08noun

a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)

“it brought a sharp rejoinder from the teacher”

09noun

the key on electric typewriters or computer keyboards that causes a carriage return and a line feed

10noun

a reciprocal group action

“in return we gave them as good as we got”

11noun

a tennis stroke that sends the ball back to the other player

“he won the point on a cross-court return”

12noun

(American football) the act of running back the ball after a kickoff or punt or interception or fumble

13noun

the act of someone appearing again

“his reappearance as Hamlet has been long awaited”

14verb

go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

“return to your native land”

“the professor returned to his teaching position after serving as Dean”

15verb

give back

“render money”

16verb

go back to a previous state

“We reverted to the old rules”

17verb

go back to something earlier

“This harks back to a previous remark of his”

18verb

bring back to the point of departure

19verb

return in kind

“return a compliment”

“return her love”

20verb

make a return

“return a kickback”

21verb

answer back

22verb

be restored

“Her old vigor returned”

23verb

pay back

“Please refund me my money”

24verb

pass down

“render a verdict”

“deliver a judgment”

25verb

elect again

26verb

be inherited by

“The estate fell to my sister”

“The land returned to the family”

27verb

return to a previous position; in mathematics

“The point returned to the interior of the figure”

28verb

give or supply

“The cow brings in 5 liters of milk”

“This year's crop yielded 1,000 bushels of corn”

29verb

submit (a report, etc.) to someone in authority

“Gov. Chris Christie has returned a bill to the New Jersey Assembly on increased gun regulations”

Meanings and examples from Open English WordNet 2025. About our sources ↗

PUT IT INTO A PHRASE

Expressions with “return”

All 18 entries ↗

Explore multiword dictionary entries containing this word. Each has its own meanings and related words.

in return day return return key tax return false return joint return return ticket amended return