Verb / Noun A2–B2 — Elementary to Upper-Intermediate /rɪˈtɜːn/

Return — Definition, Examples & Pronunciation

To come back, give back, or go back — and the journey or profit that follows.

Quick Definition

Return (verb) means to come or go back to a place, person, or previous state; or to give, send, or put something back. As a noun, a return is the act or journey of going back, or a profit or yield from an investment.

What Does Return Mean?

Return comes from Old French retourner, built from the prefix re- (back, again) and tourner (to turn), which traces back to Latin tornare (to turn on a lathe). The word entered English in the 14th century, and its core sense of "turning back" is still visible in every modern use — whether someone returns home, returns a borrowed item, or earns a return on an investment.

The word is one of the most versatile in English. As a verb it can be intransitive ("She returned to London") or transitive ("He returned the keys"). As a noun it appears in everyday phrases ("return ticket", "on her return"), business language ("annual return", "return on investment"), and even computing ("press Return to confirm"). This dual role — verb and noun, formal and everyday — makes it essential vocabulary at every CEFR level from A2 upwards.

Pay attention to register: return tends to be more formal than the everyday phrasal verb come back or go back. In writing, academic contexts, and professional communication, return is the natural choice.

Example Sentences by Level

SentenceLevelUsage note
She returned the library book before the due date.A2transitive verb — giving something back
He was happy to return home after the long trip.A2intransitive verb — going back to a place
The teacher returned our marked essays on Friday.B1transitive verb — handing back
On her return from abroad, she noticed how much had changed.B1noun — the act of coming back
The fund generated a strong annual return despite difficult market conditions.B2noun — financial profit or yield
C1C1see below

C1 example: The government's decision to return the disputed territories to their original jurisdiction sparked considerable diplomatic debate. — transitive verb in formal/political register

Collocations

CollocationExample
return homeShe was exhausted when she finally returned home.
return to workHe returned to work after two weeks off.
return a callPlease return my call when you are free.
return a favourI helped her move house; she returned the favour later.
return ticketA return ticket to Edinburgh costs less than two singles.
return journeyThe return journey took half the time.
safe returnWe all wished him a safe return.
annual returnInvestors expect an annual return of at least five per cent.
tax returnShe filed her tax return before the January deadline.
in return (for)He offered his expertise in return for a share of the profits.

Usage Notes

Key Patterns to Know

  • Return to + place/activity: "She returned to her seat." / "He returned to teaching." — use to, not back to (avoid the redundant "returned back to").
  • Return + object + to: "Please return the form to the office." — when giving something back, the recipient follows to.
  • On + possessive + return: "On her return, she found a note." — a formal noun pattern used in writing.
  • In return / in return for: "She smiled; in return, he laughed." / "He worked in return for free accommodation." — expressing reciprocity.
  • Return as noun — British English: A return (ticket) travels there and back; a single travels one way. Americans say round trip and one-way.

Common Mistakes

Watch Out For

She returned back home yesterday. (redundant — "return" already means to go back)

She returned home yesterday.

He returned to his country in 2019 back.

He returned to his country in 2019.

I will return you the money tomorrow. (wrong word order for British English)

I will return the money to you tomorrow.

She came returned from holiday. (double verb — choose one)

She returned from holiday. / She came back from holiday.

Related Words

returner (n.) non-returnable (adj.) come back (phrasal v.) go back (phrasal v.) give back (phrasal v.) revert (v.) restore (v.) retreat (v.)

Synonyms

come back go back revert restore give back repay yield (noun) profit (noun)

Antonyms

depart leave keep retain advance

Practise This Word

Flash Cards Complete the Sentence Vocabulary Quiz Hangman

Frequently Asked Questions about “return”

What does return mean in English?
Return has two main uses. As a verb it means to come or go back to a place or situation ('She returned home'), or to give something back ('Please return the book'). As a noun it means the act of going back ('on her return') or a profit or yield ('a good return on investment').
How is return used as a verb?
As a verb, return is intransitive when it means to go or come back: 'He returned from Paris.' It is transitive when it means to give or send something back: 'She returned the jacket to the shop.' Note that in British English you return something TO a place, not AT a place.
How is return used as a noun?
As a noun, return most commonly appears in these patterns: 'on my return' (when I came back), 'a return ticket' (a ticket for travel there and back), 'in return for' (as an exchange or reward), and 'a return on investment' (profit from money invested). The plural 'returns' is standard in financial contexts.
What is the difference between return and come back?
Both mean to go back to a place, but return is more formal. 'Come back' is the everyday phrasal verb used in conversation ('Come back soon!'), while return suits writing, formal speech, and academic contexts ('The prime minister returned to London'). Return also works as a transitive verb ('return a book'), but 'come back' does not.
What is a return ticket in British English?
A return ticket (British English) is a ticket that covers travel to a destination and back again. Americans call this a 'round-trip ticket'. A ticket for travel in one direction only is called a 'single' in British English or a 'one-way ticket' in American English.
What does 'in return' mean?
'In return' means as an exchange or as a reward for something. For example: 'She helped him with his essay; in return, he cooked dinner.' You can also say 'in return for': 'He offered his time in return for free accommodation.' It expresses reciprocity.
What is the noun form of return?
Return is already both a verb and a noun in English — it does not need a separate suffix. 'Her return was unexpected' uses it as a noun. Related nouns include 'returner' (a person who returns, especially to work or study after a break) and 'returns' (financial profits or election results).
Where does the word return come from?
Return comes from Old French 'retourner', formed from the prefix re- (back, again) and 'tourner' (to turn), which itself derives from Latin 'tornare' (to turn on a lathe). It entered English in the 14th century. The core meaning of 'turning back' is still visible in all its modern uses.
What are common collocations with return?
Common verb collocations include: return home, return to work, return a call, return a favour, and return a verdict. Common noun collocations include: safe return, early return, annual return, tax return, and return journey. In computing, 'press return' means to press the Enter key.
How can I practise using return in English?
Try LexFizz's Complete the Sentence exercise to practise return in context, or use the Flash Cards tool to test both the verb and noun uses. Pay special attention to collocations like 'return to work', 'in return for', and 'return ticket' — these are especially useful for IELTS and everyday communication.