return
return
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for the word "return" is /rɪˈtɜːn/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
re-: /rɪ/
/r/ as in "red"
/ɪ/ as in "bit"
turn: /ˈtɜːn/
/ˈ/ indicates the primary stress on this syllable
/t/ as in "top"
/ɜː/ as in "nurse" (British English pronunciation) or /ɝː/ (American English pronunciation). I've used the British English version here as it is the more common one.
/n/ as in "now"
Word Form Variations
return (noun - singular): This is the base form. It can refer to the act of returning, a profit, or a ticket allowing one to return.
returns (noun - plural): This refers to multiple instances of returning, multiple profits, or in some contexts, the merchandise that has been returned to a store.
returned (verb - past tense/past participle): This is the past tense and past participle form of the verb "to return." Example: "I returned the book."
returning (verb - present participle/gerund): This is the present participle form of the verb "to return." It can also function as a gerund (a verb form ending in -ing that functions as a noun). Example (present participle): "She is returning home." Example (gerund): "Returning gifts can be a hassle."
returnable (adjective): Describes something that can be returned. Example: "This item is returnable within 30 days."
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun:
Definition: The act or process of going or coming back to a place or condition.
Synonyms: homecoming, arrival, reversion, reappearance
Antonyms: departure, exit, absence, farewell
Definition: The act of giving or sending something back.
Synonyms: restitution, refund, reimbursement, exchange
Antonyms: retention, keeping, acquisition, purchase
Definition: A profit or yield from an investment or business.
Synonyms: earnings, revenue, gain, yield, proceeds, payback
Antonyms: loss, deficit, expenditure, outlay
Definition: A ticket allowing one to travel back to a certain place.
Synonyms: round-trip ticket, passage back
Antonyms: one-way ticket
Definition: A formal report or statement. (e.g., tax return)
Synonyms: report, statement, declaration, filing
Antonyms: (While there isn't a direct antonym, you could say "misrepresentation" or "concealment" in the context of a dishonest return)
Verb:
Definition: To go or come back to a place or condition.
Synonyms: revert, reappear, come back, go back, revisit
Antonyms: depart, leave, go, advance
Definition: To give or send something back.
Synonyms: restore, refund, reimburse, exchange, give back
Antonyms: keep, retain, hold, acquire
Definition: To yield a profit or gain.
Synonyms: generate, produce, earn, yield, provide
Antonyms: lose, cost, diminish, deplete
Adjective:
Definition: Capable of being returned (e.g., a returnable item).
Synonyms: refundable, exchangeable, restorable
Antonyms: non-returnable, final sale, non-refundable
Adverb:
(While "return" isn't commonly used as an adverb, you could use phrases with "return" to create an adverbial sense, though these are more accurately described as prepositional phrases acting adverbially):
Example: "He looked in return at her." (meaning: in response, reciprocally)
Synonyms: reciprocally, correspondingly, back
Antonyms: (difficult to find a direct antonym in this context, perhaps "unilaterally" or "without reciprocation")
Examples of Use
Noun:
Finance: "The investor saw a significant return on their investment." (General public discourse; this is a common phrase in financial discussions)
Retail: "The customer made a return of the damaged merchandise." (General public discourse/retail settings)
Sports: "The athlete's return to the game after injury was met with cheers." (Sports news/commentary; you'll see this in articles about athletes coming back from injury)
Travel: "She booked a return flight to London." (General public discourse/travel websites)
Politics: "The election results showed a surprising return for the Green Party." (News articles/political analysis)
Computing: "The function should return a value of type integer." (Programming documentation/tutorials)
Tax: "I filed my tax return." (General public discourse)
Verb:
Travel: "They returned home after a long vacation." (General public discourse/travel blogs)
Retail: "The store returned the customer's money for the faulty product." (Retail settings/customer service interactions)
Sports: "The tennis star returned the serve with power." (Sports commentary/match reports)
Computing: "The function returns the calculated result." (Programming tutorials/code comments)
Figurative: "He returned her smile with a warm expression." (Literature/everyday conversation)
Adjective:
Retail: "All sales are final; no returnable items." (Retail settings/store policies)
Examples in Media (though exact quotes are hard to source without specific searches):
Books: You'll find "return" used frequently in fiction and non-fiction alike, in contexts related to journeys, financial matters, and interpersonal relationships. Example: "He longed for the return to his homeland." (This is a fictional example, but the sentiment is common in literature).
Newspapers/Online Publications: News articles often use "return" in reporting on elections ("the return of the incumbent"), sports (as mentioned above), and business ("the company announced its return to profitability").
Entertainment: In movies or TV shows, characters might discuss returning a purchase, returning home, or the return on an investment.
10 Famous Quotes Using Return
"The return we reap from generous actions is not always evident, but it is certain." — François de La Rochefoucauld
"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall — and in return, learning." — Nelson Mandela
"No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; the Lord will give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In return, you will honor Him." — Psalm 91 (Bible)
"The return makes one love the farewell." — Alfred de Musset
"To give without expecting return, that is what lies at the heart of love." — Oscar Wilde
"All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, a light from the shadows shall spring; renewed shall be blade that was broken, the crownless again shall be king. And return." — J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
"Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner of traveling; its return ticket is kindness." — Margaret Lee Runbeck
"The return we make for our life is to live it well." — Marcus Aurelius
"Return to the innocence of childhood, for therein lies the kingdom of heaven." — Mahatma Gandhi
"You can’t return to where you’ve never been, but you can return to who you are." — Rumi
Etymology
The word "return" comes from the Old French word "retourner," which meant "to turn back." Think of it like this: "tourner" means "to turn," and "re-" means "again" or "back." So, "retourner" is literally "to turn back again."
This Old French word, in turn, came from the Latin word "re-" (again) and "tornare" (to turn). "Tornare" is related to the Latin word "tornus," which means "lathe" (a machine for shaping wood or metal). So, there's a faint connection to the idea of something being turned on a lathe, perhaps implying a circular or cyclical motion.
The first known use of "return" in English (around the 13th century) had the same basic meaning as its French ancestor: to go or come back to a place. It also quickly developed a sense of giving something back, like returning a borrowed item.
Over time, the word "return" broadened its meaning to include things like the yield on an investment (because you're "getting something back" from your investment) and the act of reporting something (like a tax return, where you're "giving information back" to the government).
So, in essence, the core idea behind "return" has always been about going back, giving back, or getting something back. It has roots in words related to turning and repetition, going all the way back to Latin.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Return
Common/Literal Phrases:
Return to sender: A phrase used when mail cannot be delivered and is sent back to the original sender.
Return on investment (ROI): A key financial metric measuring the profitability of an investment.
Return ticket/round-trip ticket: A ticket that allows travel to a destination and back.
A return to form: A phrase used when someone or something starts performing well again after a period of poor performance.
The point of no return: The point at which it is impossible to go back.
Less Common/Figurative Phrases:
Return the favor: To do something nice for someone who has done something nice for you.
Return fire: To retaliate, especially with words or arguments.
Return a verdict: (Legal) The jury's decision in a court case.
Return to the fold: To rejoin a group or organization.
Return from the brink: To recover from a near-disaster or collapse.
Original/Creative Phrases:
Return to the drawing board: To start over on a project after it has failed. (This uses the concept of returning, similar to C.S. Lewis's quote, but isn't a standard idiom.)
Return to sender: Emotionally: A playful way to describe rejecting someone's romantic advances.
The boomerang return: A situation where something you do has unintended consequences that come back to you.
Why "Return" is Less Common in Idioms:
"Return" is a fairly concrete word. It describes a specific action or state. Many idioms are more metaphorical and abstract, dealing with feelings, relationships, or complex situations. While "return" can be used metaphorically, it often retains a sense of the literal meaning, making it less likely to be used in highly figurative or colorful idioms.
Phrases with Synonyms (to capture the spirit of "return"):
Come full circle: To return to a situation or state that is similar to one that existed before.
Back to square one: To start over from the beginning.
Reap what you sow: To experience the consequences of your actions (a kind of "return" of consequences).
What goes around comes around: Similar to "reap what you sow."
Payback time: A time for revenge or retribution.
While "return" itself might not be a hotbed of idioms, the concept of returning is woven into many expressions in the English language.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of return from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
