Returned

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the phrase "Returned" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when indicating that something has been sent back or given back to its original place or owner. Example: "The package was returned to the sender." Alternative expressions include "sent back" and "brought back."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Times reported that he said: "You have tanks and armour rolling across the Ukrainian border, and you have an Estonian border guard being captured and not yet still returned.

The Guardian

Carr, who served as NSW premier for 10 years, entered the Senate and became foreign minister at the request of former prime minister Julia Gillard in March 2012, when Kevin Rudd returned to the backbench after losing a leadership challenge.

The Guardian

He returned to Japan with his wife and founded Nikka, a company that, along with Suntory, is one of the pillars of the Japanese whisky industry.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

They spoke about the sale of some unwanted tickets that were returned to Match by a hotel group.

The Guardian - Sport

There he once returned to the dressing room after training to find armed men eager to berate the team for their failings.

The Guardian - Sport

But he returned again and again to the posed naked figure, male and female – the ultimate test and validation, so the critic Robert Hughes has stated, of any artist's merit and painterly ability.

The Guardian - Arts

Despite Moscow's statements that troops had been withdrawn to their home bases, only a few units have returned to their place of permanent deployment, the analysts said.

The Guardian

The jury returned a verdict on three charges: conspiracy to kill Americans, conspiring to provide support to al-Qaida and providing support to al-Qaida.

The Guardian

Duke said he had been adopted at birth, and he recently returned to Moscow after living for a few years in the Midwest.

The Guardian

Some may ask for rent in advance while others will require a lump sum of money to be returned providing the house is well kept Read it back-to-front and get your university's student advice service or student union to check it over.

The Guardian

Piechowski and Bendera spent time in Ukraine before Piechowski returned to Poland, joining the partisan Polish Home Army and spending the rest of the war fighting the Nazis.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, consider the nuance you want to convey. Use "Returned" when you want to emphasize a completed action of something going back to its original state or owner. Alternatives such as "sent back" or "brought back" may be more appropriate depending on the context.

Common error

Ensure that the tense of "Returned" aligns with the rest of the sentence. Using the past participle form incorrectly can lead to grammatical errors. Double-check subject-verb agreement and overall sentence structure to avoid these mistakes.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "Returned" is as the past tense and past participle of the verb 'return'. It indicates a completed action of going or being sent back to a place or state. Ludwig AI examples confirm its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Returned" is the past tense and past participle of the verb 'return', indicating that something or someone has gone back to a previous state or location. Ludwig AI shows it is very common in News & Media and maintains a neutral register, making it widely acceptable for various writing contexts. Remember to ensure correct tense usage and consider alternative phrases like "given back" or "sent back" to refine your message. Pay attention to the context and choose the word that best conveys your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Given back

Replaces "Returned" with a phrasal verb emphasizing the act of giving something back.

Sent back

Focuses on the action of sending something to its origin.

Brought back

Highlights the act of bringing something to its original place.

Reverted

Emphasizes a return to a previous state or condition.

Restored

Implies a return to a former or original condition, often one of better quality.

Reinstated

Focuses on bringing someone or something back to a former position or condition.

Delivered back

Highlights the act of delivering something to its starting point.

Reappeared

Suggests a return to visibility or presence.

Came back

Simple and direct way of expressing a return to a place or state.

Transferred back

Focuses on the action of moving something back to its original location.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to using "Returned" in a sentence?

You can use alternatives like "given back", "sent back", or "brought back" depending on the context.

How can I use "Returned" in a sentence?

"Returned" is the past tense and past participle of the verb 'return'. Example: "The book was returned to the library." You can also say, "He returned home after a long day".

Which is correct, "Returned" or "Return" in the past tense?

"Returned" is the correct past tense form of "return". "Return" is the base form of the verb and is not used to indicate a completed action in the past.

What's the difference between "Returned" and "Reverted"?

"Returned" generally means to bring or send something back to its original place or owner. "Reverted" implies a return to a previous state or condition.