return 1 of 2

verb

ri-ˈtərn How to pronounce return (audio)
Definition of returnnext
1
as in to restore
to bring, send, or put back to a former or proper place when I'm done reading a book, I always return it to the very shelf I got it from

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to yield
to produce as revenue this technology stock is expected to return a healthy profit

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to respond
to speak or write in reaction to a question or to another reaction when I asked him to sit down to dinner, he returned that he would come when he was good and ready

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to revert
to go back to a previous and usually lower state or level vowed to do anything to keep the recovering alcoholic from returning to his dissolute ways

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

return

2 of 2

noun

1
as in response
something spoken or written in reaction especially to a question I was moved by my grandfather's lengthy return to my casual question about his experiences in the Vietnam War

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in revenue
an increase usually measured in money that comes from labor, business, or property if we buy better equipment, we'll be able to make the product faster, thus getting a better return on our investment

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in proceeds
the amount of money left when expenses are subtracted from the total amount received the return on each unit sold has increased since we streamlined the production process

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb return contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of return are reciprocate, requite, and retaliate. While all these words mean "to give back usually in kind or in quantity," return implies a paying or giving back.

returned their call
return good for evil

In what contexts can reciprocate take the place of return?

Although the words reciprocate and return have much in common, reciprocate implies a mutual or equivalent exchange or a paying back of what one has received.

reciprocated their hospitality by inviting them for a visit

When is requite a more appropriate choice than return?

In some situations, the words requite and return are roughly equivalent. However, requite implies a paying back according to one's preference and often not equivalently.

requited her love with cold indifference

When is it sensible to use retaliate instead of return?

The synonyms retaliate and return are sometimes interchangeable, but retaliate usually implies a paying back of injury in exact kind, often vengefully.

the enemy retaliated by executing their prisoners

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of return
Verb
Anyone who purchased Our Family Traverse City Ground Coffee with the corresponding UPC and best by date listed above can return it to the store where it was purchased for a refund or replacement, a SpartanNash spokesperson said in an email to USA TODAY. —Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025 District court judges separately ruled in favor of Wilcox and Harris, finding their removals were unlawful and returning them to their roles. —Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2025
Noun
In return, the Chinese government raised tariffs on the U.S. by 50 percent, bringing the overall level to 84 percent. —Tara Suter, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025 Filers who never received the funds could claim the recovery rebate credit on their 2021 federal return. —Kate Dore, Cfp®, Ea, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for return
Recent Examples of Synonyms for return
  1. restore
  2. yield
  3. respond
  4. revert
  5. response
  6. revenue
  7. pay
  8. reply
Verb
  • Among the Trump administration’s demands on Columbia University in return for restoring $400 million in funding was a ban on masks, which many peaceful protesters wear not to menace others but to avoid being identified by facial recognition.
    — Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2025
  • These habits can restore mitochondrial function and even reverse the course of some psychiatric conditions.
    — Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of restore
Verb
  • These super wealthy tax filers had an average tax rate of 25.4%, yielding a total income tax of about $10.5 billion.
    — Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2025
  • This yields a poor Cash-to-Assets Ratio of 0.5% (vs. 14.8% for S&P 500) How Resilient Is RH Stock During A Downturn?
    — Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of yield
Verb
  • Sutter County deputies responded to reports of a hunting incident on Sunday, April 6, at approximately 9:00 a.m., near Gifford Road in the Fremont Weir Wildlife Area.
    — Angel Saunders, People.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Bitcoin prices extended their recent losses in the last few days, falling to their lowest point of the year as global investors responded to the latest concerns created by ongoing developments surrounding global tariffs.
    — Charles Lloyd Bovaird II, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of respond
Verb
  • In the days after the summit, the downtown reverted back to a filthy equilibrium.
    — Carson Becker, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2025
  • The provisions would also require continued coverage if a patient’s BMI drops below 35, as long as a doctor certifies that stopping the drug would likely cause the patient’s BMI to revert above that threshold.
    — Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 24 Mar. 2025
Definition of revert
Noun
  • This response comes after the U.S. imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from the EU in March.
    — Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The pause came hours after the European Union voted to approve retaliatory tariffs on $23 billion in goods, starting April 15, in response to Trump’s previously announced 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum—which remain in effect.
    — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of response
Noun
  • The company, which achieved its first full year of profitability in 2024, sees further opportunity in its advertising business, but also saw ad revenue growth slow down in the second half of the year.
    — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Music streaming giant Spotify relies on the U.S. for more than one-third of its revenue, according to BofA.
    — Hakyung Kim, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of revenue
Verb
  • At its heart, the trial was about whether college athletes and former college athletes should be paid more than nothing for use of their NIL in video games and other products.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • From the start of their seemingly happy relationship, her family was impressed by the attention that Booker paid to them.
    — Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of pay
Verb
  • John replied with annoyance, and the conversation ultimately ended with McCartney abruptly hanging up on him.
    — Kim Willis, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Bow Wow recently cleared the air on his current relationship with Omarion, and the 40-year-old singer quickly replied.
    — Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of reply

Phrases Containing return

Browse Nearby Words

retrospects
return
returned
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Return.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/return. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on return

Nglish: Translation of return for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)
See More

Popular

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

8 Words with Fascinating Histories
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a game of hangman on lined paper
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All