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

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Relevance

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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
After long being dormant, but not technically disbanded, Grizzly Bear have returned. —Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 27 May 2025 Someone, evidently, had returned the shirt claiming to have bought it at the store, and it was then placed on the sales floor with a price tag of $8.99. —Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 27 May 2025
Noun
Their accountant, Peter Tarantino, was also found guilty of conspiracy to defraud the United States and willfully filing false tax returns. —Rachel Treisman, NPR, 28 May 2025 The fourth season will again time jump to open nearly two years after the events of season three and, along with news of the return date, the Apple TV+ drama has released a handful of first-look photos to tease both the new and returning cast. —Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 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
  • Other students, whose schools canceled the exam before access was restored, raged against having to gear up for the test again in the future.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 23 May 2025
  • The four-floor building incorporates Washington, DC’s oldest synagogue, with the 146-year-old historic brick synagogue moved and restored to sit alongside the modern museum building at the corner of 3rd and F Streets NW.
    — Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 23 May 2025
Definition of restore
Verb
  • This situation highlights a general downturn within the cruise sector, as Carnival Corp has seen a reduction of 12%, Viking Holdings experienced a decline of 2%, and Royal Caribbean stock yielded a modest increase of 3%.
    — Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
  • What was at first written off as mere youthful rebellion, destined to fizzle out, ultimately yielded the appointment of a Deaf president, and helped galvanize the greater movement that led to the passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act.
    — John Hendrickson, The Atlantic, 23 May 2025
Definition of yield
Verb
  • The White House did not immediately respond to requests seeking comment on the new nonprofit.
    — Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 26 May 2025
  • While its multibillion-dollar budget has only grown, the number of low-level arrests and traffic stops have plummeted, and staffing shortages have forced the department to focus more on responding to and solving violent crimes.
    — Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2025
Definition of respond
Verb
  • The introduction to the Paul Maurice playoff Panthers was a wild ride as the team reached Game 7 after trailing three games to one in the series and reverting back to Sergei Bobrovsky as their starting goalie mid-series.
    — Steve Svekis, Sun Sentinel, 18 May 2025
  • Without new legislation, the top rate is set to expire and would revert back to 39.6%.
    — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 13 May 2025
Definition of revert
Noun
  • Another example is Levels Health, once focused purely on metabolic glucose monitoring, which has now begun expanding its insights to reflect stress-hormone interactions, cortisol cycles and dietary responses tied to hormonal fluctuations.
    — Ximena Araya-Fischel, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
  • That throw and the eventual response are now a meaningful data point.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 29 May 2025
Definition of response
Noun
  • In 2024, Arhaus reported $1.27 billion in net revenue.
    — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 20 May 2025
  • Contra Home Depot, whose first-quarter earnings fell just below analyst expectations despite beating revenue projections, according to FactSet, reported the company will hold onto its forecast for full-year sales.
    — Ty Roush, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
Definition of revenue
Verb
  • That hasn’t stopped companies from throwing millions of dollars in bonuses and pay packages at star researchers, according to seven sources familiar with the matter.
    — Anna Tong, USA Today, 22 May 2025
  • This note obligates the trust to pay the seller over time, often with interest.
    — Andre Pennington, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
Definition of pay
Verb
  • Our time can get snapped up by sitting in meetings, replying to emails, and responding to urgent requests.
    — Melissa A. Wheeler, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
  • The Trump administration did not immediately reply to ABC News' request for comment.
    — Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 29 May 2025
Definition of reply

Phrases Containing return

Browse Nearby Words

retrospects
return
returned
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Cite this Entry

“Return.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/return. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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