return

/rɪˈtɜːrn/
verbnounBeginner to go back to a place or person
general

to go back to a place or person

We will return home after the vacation.

We will go back to our home after the vacation.

💡

Commonly used for physical movement back to a location.

general

to give something back to someone

Please return the borrowed items by next week.

Please give back the borrowed items by next week.

💡

Often used in contexts like borrowing or renting.

general

to come back to a previous state or condition

The weather will return to normal soon.

The weather will go back to its usual state soon.

💡

Used for abstract or non-physical returns.

💰Finance
Finance

to yield a profit or benefit

This investment is expected to return 10% annually.

This investment is expected to yield a 10% profit each year.

💡

Commonly used in financial contexts to describe profits or yields.

Collocations

return toto go back to a place or statereturn somethingto give something backreturn on investmentthe profit or benefit from an investment

Related Phrases

return to senderphrase
to send something back to the original sender
return on investmentphrase
the profit or benefit from an investment

💡Pro Tip

Verb vs. Noun

'Return' can be used as both a verb (to go back) and a noun (the act of going back or the profit from an investment).

Gold Rule

Common Usage

In everyday language, 'return' is often used to mean going back to a place or giving something back.

📖Word Origin

From Middle English 'retourne', from Old French 'retourner', from Latin 're-' (back) + 'tornare' (to turn).

📝Usage Notes

The word 'return' can be both a verb and a noun. As a noun, it can refer to the act of coming back or the profit from an investment.

Word Breakdown

re-
back
prefix
+
-turn
to turn around
root
English Dictionary