come / go back
1 [V] ~ (to...) (from...) to come or go back from one place to another:
I waited a long time for him to return. * She's returning to Australia tomorrow after six months in Europe. * I returned from work to find the house empty. * When did she return home from the trip? * I had to return to the store to look for my purse.
bring / give back
2 ~ sb/sth (to sb/sth) to bring, give, put or send sth back to sb/sth:
[VN] We had to return the hairdryer to the store because it was faulty. * I must return some books to the library. * Don't forget to return my pen! * The court ordered him to return the children to their mother. * Completed questionnaires should be returned to this address. * [VN-ADJ] I returned the letter unopened.
of feeling / quality
3 [V] to come back again:
The following day the pain returned. * Her suspicions returned when things started going missing again.
to previous subject / activity
4 [V] ~ (to sth) to start discussing a subject you were discussing earlier, or doing an activity you were doing earlier:
He returns to this topic later in the report. * She looked up briefly then returned to her sewing. * The doctor may allow her to return to work next week.
to previous state
5 [V] ~ to sth to go back to a previous state:
Train services have returned to normal after the strike.
do / give the same
6 [VN] to do or give sth to sb because they have done or given the same to you first; to have the same feeling about sb that they have about you:
to return a favour / greeting / stare * She phoned him several times but he was too busy to return her call. * It's time we returned their invitation (= invite them to sth as they invited us to sth first). * He did not return her love. * 'You were both wonderful!' 'So were you!' we said, returning the compliment. * to return fire (= to shoot at sb who is shooting at you)
in tennis
7 [VN] to hit the ball back to your opponent during a game:
to return a service / shot
a verdict
8 [VN] ~ a verdict to give a decision about sth in a court of law:
The jury returned a verdict of not guilty. * The inquest returned a verdict of accidental death.
elect politician
9 [VN] [usuallypassive] ~ sb (to sth)
