noun
1. the act of someone appearing again
e.g. his reappearance as Hamlet has been long awaited
Synonym: reappearance
2. a coming to or returning home
e.g. on his return from Australia we gave him a welcoming party
Synonym: homecoming
3. getting something back again
e.g. upon the restitution of the book to its rightful owner the child was given a tongue lashing
Synonym: restitutionrestorationregaining
4. the act of going back to a prior location
e.g. they set out on their return to the base camp
5. (American football) the act of running back the ball after a kickoff or punt or interception or fumble
6. a tennis stroke that sends the ball back to the other player
e.g. he won the point on a cross-court return
7. a reciprocal group action
e.g. in return we gave them as good as we got
Synonym: paying backgetting even
8. the key on electric typewriters or computer keyboards that causes a carriage return and a line feed
Synonym: return key
9. document giving the tax collector information about the taxpayer's tax liability
e.g. his gross income was enough that he had to file a tax return
Synonym: tax returnincome tax return
10. a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)
e.g. it brought a sharp rejoinder from the teacher
Synonym: rejoinderretortripostereplicationcomebackcounter
11. happening again (especially at regular intervals)
e.g. the return of spring
Synonym: recurrence
12. the occurrence of a change in direction back in the opposite direction
Synonym: coming back
13. the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property
e.g. the average return was about 5%
Synonym: issuetaketakingsproceedsyieldpayoff
verb
1. go back to a previous state
e.g. We reverted to the old rules
Synonym: revertretrovertregressturn back
2. be restored
e.g. Her old vigor returned
Synonym: come back
3. answer back
Synonym: retortcome backrepayriposterejoin
4. submit (a report, etc.) to someone in authority
e.g. submit a bill to a legislative body
5. go back to something earlier
e.g. This harks back to a previous remark of his
Synonym: hark backcome backrecall
6. pass down
e.g. render a verdict
deliver a judgment
Synonym: renderdeliver
7. make a return
e.g. return a kickback
8. give or supply
e.g. The cow brings in 5 liters of milk
This year's crop yielded 1,000 bushels of corn
The estate renders some revenue for the family
Synonym: renderyieldgivegenerate
9. go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
e.g. return to your native land
the professor returned to his teaching position after serving as Dean
10. return to a previous position
in mathematics
e.g. The point returned to the interior of the figure
11. bring back to the point of departure
Synonym: take backbring back
12. be inherited by
e.g. The estate fell to my sister
The land returned to the family
The estate devolved to an heir that everybody had assumed to be dead
Synonym: fallpassdevolve
13. pay back
e.g. Please refund me my money
Synonym: refundrepaygive back
14. give back
e.g. render money
Synonym: render
15. return in kind
e.g. return a compliment
return her love
16. elect again
Synonym: reelect