return meaning and definition

RETURN noun

Definition of return (noun)

1. document giving the tax collector information about the taxpayer's tax liability
   • "his gross income was enough that he had to file a tax return"
   • synonyms: income tax return, tax return
2. a coming to or returning home
   • "on his return from Australia we gave him a welcoming party"
   • synonyms: homecoming
3. the occurrence of a change in direction back in the opposite direction
   • synonyms: coming back
4. getting something back again
   • "upon the restitution of the book to its rightful owner the child was given a tongue lashing"
   • synonyms: regaining, restitution, restoration
5. the act of going back to a prior location
   • "they set out on their return to the base camp"
6. the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property
   • "the average return was about 5%"
   • synonyms: issue, payoff, proceeds, take, takings, yield
7. happening again (especially at regular intervals)
   • "the return of spring"
   • synonyms: recurrence
8. a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)
   • "it brought a sharp rejoinder from the teacher"
   • synonyms: comeback, counter, rejoinder, replication, retort, riposte
9. the key on electric typewriters or computer keyboards that causes a carriage return and a line feed
   • synonyms: return key
10. a reciprocal group action
    • "in return we gave them as good as we got"
    • synonyms: getting even, paying back
11. a tennis stroke that sends the ball back to the other player
    • "he won the point on a cross-court return"
12. (American football) the act of running back the ball after a kickoff or punt or interception or fumble
13. the act of someone appearing again
    • "his reappearance as Hamlet has been long awaited"
    • synonyms: reappearance

RETURN verb

Definition of return (verb)

1. go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
   • "return to your native land"; "the professor returned to his teaching position after serving as Dean"
2. give back
   • "render money"
   • synonyms: render
3. go back to a previous state
   • "We reverted to the old rules"
   • synonyms: regress, retrovert, revert, turn back
4. go back to something earlier
   • "This harks back to a previous remark of his"
   • synonyms: come back, hark back, recall
5. bring back to the point of departure
   • synonyms: bring back, take back
6. return in kind
   • "return a compliment"; "return her love"
7. make a return
   • "return a kickback"
8. answer back
   • synonyms: come back, rejoin, repay, retort, riposte
9. be restored
   • "Her old vigor returned"
   • synonyms: come back
10. pay back
    • "Please refund me my money"
    • synonyms: give back, refund, repay
11. pass down
    • "render a verdict"; "deliver a judgment"
    • synonyms: deliver, render
12. elect again
    • synonyms: reelect
13. be inherited by
    • "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"
    • synonyms: devolve, fall, pass
14. return to a previous position; in mathematics
    • "The point returned to the interior of the figure"
15. give or supply
    • "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"
    • synonyms: generate, give, render, yield
16. submit (a report, etc.) to someone in authority
    • "submit a bill to a legislative body"