<p><strong>Verb</strong></p><ul><li>(used without object) to go or come back, as to a former place, position, or state:<ul><li>to return to public office;</li><li>to return from abroad;</li><li>to return to work.</li></ul></li><li>to revert to a former owner:<ul><li>The money I gave him returns to me in the event of his death.</li></ul></li><li>to revert or recur, as in thought, discourse, etc.:<ul><li>He returned to his story.</li></ul></li><li>to make a reply or retort:<ul><li>She returned with a witty sally.</li></ul></li></ul><p><strong>Synonyms</strong></p><ul><li>respond, reply, rejoin, answer</li></ul><p><strong>Verb (used with object)</strong></p><ul><li>to put, bring, take, give, or send back to the original place, position, etc.:<ul><li>to return a child to her mother;</li><li>to return a book to a shelf;</li><li>to return the switch to off position.</li></ul></li></ul><p><strong>Synonyms</strong></p><ul><li><p>restore, replace</p></li><li><p>to send or give back in reciprocation, recompense, or requital:</p><ul><li>to return evil for good.</li></ul></li></ul><p><strong>Synonyms</strong></p><ul><li><p>exchange</p></li><li><p>to reciprocate, repay, or react to (something sent, given, done, etc.) with something similar:</p><ul><li>to return a favor.</li></ul></li><li><p>Law: to give to a judge or official (a statement or a writ of actions done).</p></li><li><p>to reflect (light, sound, etc.).</p></li><li><p>to yield (a profit, revenue, etc.), as in return for labor, expenditure, or investment.</p></li></ul><p><strong>Synonyms</strong></p><ul><li><p>clear, yield, pay, earn, pay out</p></li><li><p>to report or announce officially:</p><ul><li>to return a list of members.</li></ul></li><li><p>to elect, as to a legislative body:</p><ul><li>The voters returned him to office by a landslide.</li></ul></li><li><p>Military: to put (a weapon) back into its holder.</p></li><li><p>Cards: to respond to (a suit led) by a similar lead:</p><ul><li>She returned diamonds.</li></ul></li><li><p>to turn back or in the reverse direction, as a served ball in tennis.</p></li></ul><p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>the act or fact of returning as by going or coming back or bringing, sending, or giving back:<ul><li>the return of the Jews from the Diaspora;</li><li>We should appreciate your return of the book immediately.</li></ul></li><li>a recurrence:<ul><li>the return of the moon each month.</li></ul></li><li>reciprocation, repayment, or requital:<ul><li>profits in return for outlay.</li></ul></li><li>response or reply.</li><li>a person or thing that is returned:<ul><li>returns of mill goods.</li></ul></li><li>the gain realized on an exchange of goods.</li></ul><p><strong>Often returns</strong></p><ul><li>a yield or profit, as from labor, land, business, or investment:<ul><li>He received a quick return on his money.</li></ul></li></ul><p><strong>Synonyms</strong></p><ul><li><p>income, revenue</p></li><li><p>tax return (def).</p></li><li><p>Usually returns.</p></li><li><p>an official or unofficial report on a count of votes, candidates elected, etc.:</p><ul><li>election returns.</li></ul></li><li><p>Chiefly British: return ticket (def 2).</p></li><li><p>Architecture: the continuation of a molding, projection, etc., in a different direction.</p></li><li><p>a side or part that falls away from the front of any straight or flat member or area.</p></li><li><p>a table-like extension attached at a right angle to a desk at typing height, for holding a typewriter, computer, etc.</p></li><li><p>a key or lever on a typewriter or other business machine that returns the carriage to the extreme right, or the typing element to the extreme left, for the beginning of a new line.</p></li><li><p>Computers: carriage return.</p></li><li><p>Sports: the act of returning a ball.</p></li><li><p>the ball that is returned.</p></li><li><p>Football: a run back of a kick, intercepted pass, or fumble recovery.</p></li><li><p>Economics: yield per unit as compared to the cost per unit involved in a specific industrial process.</p></li><li><p>Law: the bringing or sending back of various documents, such as a writ, summons, or subpoena, with a brief written report usually endorsed upon it, by a sheriff, to the court from which it issued.</p></li><li><p>a certified document by a great variety of officers, as assessors, collectors, and election officers.</p></li><li><p>the report or certificate endorsed in such documents.</p></li><li><p>Cards: a lead that responds to a partner's lead.</p></li><li><p>Theater: a flat or drapery parallel to the tormentor for masking the offstage area and often completing the downstage part of a set.</p></li><li><p>returns, merchandise shipped back to a supplier from a retailer or distributor as unsold or unsalable.</p></li><li><p>merchandise returned to a retailer by a consumer.</p></li></ul><p><strong>Adjective</strong></p><ul><li>of or relating to a return or returning:<ul><li>a return trip.</li></ul></li><li>sent, given, or done in return:<ul><li>a return shot.</li></ul></li><li>done or occurring again:<ul><li>a return engagement of the opera.</li></ul></li><li>noting a person or thing that is returned or returning to a place:<ul><li>return cargo.</li></ul></li><li>changing in direction; doubling or returning on itself:<ul><li>a return twist in a road.</li></ul></li><li>used for returning, recirculating, etc.:<ul><li>a return pipe.</li></ul></li><li>the return road; a return pipe.</li><li>(of a game) played in order to provide the loser of an earlier game with the opportunity to win from the same opponent:<ul><li>return match.</li></ul></li><li>adequate, necessary, or provided to enable the return of a mailed package or letter to its sender:<ul><li>return address; return postage guaranteed; return envelope.</li></ul></li></ul>