# return

> English word · Verb · IPA /ɹɪˈtɜːn/ · frequency rank #663

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

## Easily confused with
- **returns** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/return-vs-returns)
- **returned** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/return-vs-returned)
- **retro** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retro-vs-return)
- **rerun** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rerun-vs-return)
- **recur** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/recur-vs-return)
- **retry** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retry-vs-return)
- **retain** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retain-vs-return)
- **retire** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retire-vs-return)
- **reborn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reborn-vs-return)
- **retard** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retard-vs-return)
- **retort** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retort-vs-return)

## Common misspellings (9)
`erturn`, `retrun`, `retturn`, `retunr`, `returnn`, `returrn`, `reutrn`, `rreturn`, `rteurn`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/return