return 1 of 2

1
as in to restore
to bring, send, or put back to a former or proper place when I'm done reading a book, I always return it to the very shelf I got it from

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2
as in to yield
to produce as revenue this technology stock is expected to return a healthy profit

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3
as in to respond
to speak or write in reaction to a question or to another reaction when I asked him to sit down to dinner, he returned that he would come when he was good and ready

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4
as in to revert
to go back to a previous and usually lower state or level vowed to do anything to keep the recovering alcoholic from returning to his dissolute ways

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

return

2 of 2

noun

1
2
as in revenue
an increase usually measured in money that comes from labor, business, or property if we buy better equipment, we'll be able to make the product faster, thus getting a better return on our investment

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in proceeds
the amount of money left when expenses are subtracted from the total amount received the return on each unit sold has increased since we streamlined the production process

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb return contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of return are reciprocate, requite, and retaliate. While all these words mean "to give back usually in kind or in quantity," return implies a paying or giving back.

returned their call
return good for evil

In what contexts can reciprocate take the place of return?

Although the words reciprocate and return have much in common, reciprocate implies a mutual or equivalent exchange or a paying back of what one has received.

reciprocated their hospitality by inviting them for a visit

When is requite a more appropriate choice than return?

In some situations, the words requite and return are roughly equivalent. However, requite implies a paying back according to one's preference and often not equivalently.

requited her love with cold indifference

When is it sensible to use retaliate instead of return?

The synonyms retaliate and return are sometimes interchangeable, but retaliate usually implies a paying back of injury in exact kind, often vengefully.

the enemy retaliated by executing their prisoners

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of return
Verb
After long being dormant, but not technically disbanded, Grizzly Bear have returned. Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 27 May 2025 Someone, evidently, had returned the shirt claiming to have bought it at the store, and it was then placed on the sales floor with a price tag of $8.99. Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 27 May 2025
Noun
Their accountant, Peter Tarantino, was also found guilty of conspiracy to defraud the United States and willfully filing false tax returns. Rachel Treisman, NPR, 28 May 2025 The fourth season will again time jump to open nearly two years after the events of season three and, along with news of the return date, the Apple TV+ drama has released a handful of first-look photos to tease both the new and returning cast. Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for return
Recent Examples of Synonyms for return
Verb
  • The council has spent months deliberating the budget and, most recently, decided to restore funding for a residential parking program, youth events and immigrant legal aid.
    Annika Merrilees, Sacbee.com, 5 June 2025
  • The university has made various concessions to the government — including more oversight of Middle Eastern studies and ways of cracking down on pro-Palestinian protests — that have so far proved insufficient to restore the funding.
    Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 4 June 2025
Verb
  • Attorneys for Trump have entered mediation with the Paramount camp, but a recent eight-figure offer from Paramount to settle the case did not yield an agreement.
    Dade Hayes, Deadline, 3 June 2025
  • The majority of models that did get implemented failed to yield cost savings.
    Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Verb
  • The Hurricanes responded by allowing back-to-back homers to lead off the next inning.
    Cameron Priester, Sun Sentinel, 7 June 2025
  • The Bedminster club's reception desk and chef did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
    Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • Omen gets a change reverted from a few patches ago which should stop dead allies spectating Omen being able to see through nearsights, while the really annoying issue where Vyse could no longer use Arc Rose for the remainder of the round if it was placed too close to the spike has also been solved.
    Mike Stubbs, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
  • However, Netflix has rarely allowed users to revert, and doing so usually requires a workaround rather than an official means of doing so.
    Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
Noun
  • After the stock market plunged in response to the levies, Trump paused the reciprocal tariffs for most countries, lowering the tariffs to a universal 10% rate.
    Joey Garrison, USA Today, 29 May 2025
  • The diminished virulence that the pathogen evolved in response to more of its hosts dying potentially caused these earlier plague pandemics to fizzle out.
    Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 29 May 2025
Noun
  • The latest federal tax filing shows $72 million in revenue for the year ending June 30, 2024, against spending of $67 million.
    Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2025
  • The revenue model is essentially the same as traditional financial institutions.
    Cleve Mesidor, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
Verb
  • Blanchfield’s management team reported that she will be paid her full show and win money for UFC Vegas 107.
    Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
  • That work has given him enough money to pay for car insurance and other expenses, but not enough to move out from his parents’ home.
    Matt Egan, CNN Money, 2 June 2025
Verb
  • Our time can get snapped up by sitting in meetings, replying to emails, and responding to urgent requests.
    Melissa A. Wheeler, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
  • The Trump administration did not immediately reply to ABC News' request for comment.
    Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 29 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Return.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/return. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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