return

/ɹɪˈtɜːn/

//ɹɪˈtɜːn// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"return" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“return” is in the everyday core of English, ranked #663 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#663
frequency rank, English
6
letters
9
tracked misspellings
11
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To come or go back (to a place or person).

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

return vs returns
86% similar
return vs returned
75% similar
return vs retro
67% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for return
PropertyValue
Headwordreturn
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɹɪˈtɜːn/
Letters6
Frequency rank#663
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs11
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “return” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). return lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for return is 6 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɹɪˈtɜːn/. Corpus data places it at rank #663 in overall English word frequency, putting it firmly in the everyday core of the language. Wiktionary records 20 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for return, with forms such as "erturn", "retrun", and "retturn". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 11 confusable-pair relationships, "returns", "returned", "retro", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English returnen, retornen, from Anglo-Norman returner, from Old French retourner, retorner, from Medieval Latin retornare (“to turn back”), from re- + tornare (“to turn”). By surface analysis, re- + turn. Compare beturn. The correct English form is return, spelled R-E-T-U-R-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    To come or go back (to a place or person).
  2. 2
    To go back in thought, narration, or argument.
  3. 3
    To recur; to come again.
  4. 4
    To turn back, retreat.
  5. 5
    To turn (something) round.
  6. 6
    To place or put back something where it had been.
  7. 7
    To give something back to its original holder or owner.
  8. 8
    To give in requital or recompense; to requite.
  9. 9
    To reciprocate (a visit or telephone call).
  10. 10
    To take back something to a vendor for a complete or partial refund.
  11. 11
    To bat the ball back over the net in response to a serve.
  12. 12
    To play a card as a result of another player's lead.
  13. 13
    To throw a ball back to the wicket-keeper (or a fielder at that position) from somewhere in the field.
  14. 14
    To say in reply; to respond.
  15. 15
    To relinquish control to the calling procedure.
  16. 16
    To pass (data) back to the calling procedure.
  17. 17
    To retort; to throw back.
  18. 18
    To report, or bring back and make known.
  19. 19
    To elect to a certain office.
  20. 20
    To give a thrust or cut after parrying a sword-thrust.

Etymology

From Middle English returnen, retornen, from Anglo-Norman returner, from Old French retourner, retorner, from Medieval Latin retornare (“to turn back”), from re- + tornare (“to turn”). By surface analysis, re- + turn. Compare beturn.

Synonyms

revendgive backreinstaterenderrestorereturnrevestsurrender

Antonyms

take

This word in other languages

retornar(Español)revenir(Français)zurückkehren(Deutsch)regressar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: erturn,retrun,retturn,retunr,returnn,returrn,reutrn,rreturn,rteurn

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of return - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

erturn2retrun2retturn1retunr2returnn1returrn1reutrn2rreturn1
Edit distance from "return"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "return"?
"return" is spelled R-E-T-U-R-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ɹɪˈtɜːn/.
What does "return" mean?
As a verb, "return" means: To come or go back (to a place or person).
What words are commonly confused with "return"?
"return" is commonly confused with "returns", "returned", "retro". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "return"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "return" is /ɹɪˈtɜːn/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "return"?
From Middle English returnen, retornen, from Anglo-Norman returner, from Old French retourner, retorner, from Medieval Latin retornare (“to turn back”), from re- + tornare (“to turn”). By surface analysis, re- + turn. Compare beturn. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “return”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is R-E-T-U-R-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɹɪˈtɜːn/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “returns” - see the side-by-side comparison. return vs returns
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list