to go or come back to a place, situation, or condition after being away
After school, the children will return home for dinner.
The swallows return every spring to build nests under the old bridge.
✦ From Old French 'retourner', from Latin 're-' (back) + 'tornare' (to turn).
the act of coming or going back to a place or state
Everyone celebrated her return from the hospital.
The soldiers received a hero’s welcome on their return.
✦ See Sense 1.
to give, send, or put something back to the person or place it came from
Could you return the book to the library for me?
She politely returned the jacket she had borrowed from her friend.
a train, bus, or plane ticket that allows you to travel to a place and back again
A return to Manchester is cheaper than two single tickets.
He asked the clerk for a return because he planned to come back the same day.
✦ Specialised UK railway use from the late 19th century.
to produce or yield a financial profit or result
The investment is expected to return ten percent per year.
Government bonds usually return less than stocks but are safer.
✦ Financial sense developed in the 17th century from the idea of money ‘coming back’ to the investor.
