happy to return

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "happy to return" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing your pleasure or satisfaction about coming back to a place, situation, or activity. Example: "After a long break, I am happy to return to my favorite café and see all my friends again."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

We were happy to return home.

The Guardian - Sport

And she would still be happy to return to work.

The New York Times

The British were happy to return the favor.

The New York Times

I would be happy to return to nursing.

The Guardian

So Edwards was happy to return, adding a "little bit of veteranism".

The New York Times - Sports

The city makes them uneasy and they are happy to return home.

The New Yorker

Although he blew the save opportunity, he was still happy to return to pitching.

The New York Times - Sports

Others will be happy to return to a quieter life in Europe or America.

The Economist

And some of those businesses were happy to return the favor.

The New York Times

The refinery staff are happy to return to work but the army won't allow it.

The Guardian

My predecessor in creative writing was happy to return to literature, grammar, spelling, vocabulary.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider stronger synonyms like "delighted", "thrilled", or "eager" to convey a greater degree of enthusiasm if appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "happy to return" in consecutive sentences or paragraphs without varying the phrasing. Overuse can make writing monotonous. Instead, alternate with synonyms like "pleased to be back" or rephrase to highlight the specific reason for your happiness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "happy to return" functions as an adjective phrase followed by a verb, expressing a state of contentment or pleasure regarding a return. Ludwig AI shows it's primarily used to indicate satisfaction about going back to a place, activity, or situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Sports

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Travel

8%

Science

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "happy to return" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to express pleasure or contentment upon returning to a place, activity, or situation. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread usage across varied contexts, particularly in news, sports, and media. While alternatives like "pleased to come back" or "glad to be back" exist, ensure contextual appropriateness and avoid overuse for stylistic diversity. Remember to provide context to clarify the object of return and consider stronger synonyms for greater emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

glad to be back

A more informal and concise way to express happiness about returning.

pleased to come back

Emphasizes the pleasure associated with returning.

delighted to return

Conveys a stronger sense of joy or delight.

eager to return

Implies enthusiasm and anticipation about returning.

content to return

Suggests satisfaction or acceptance with the idea of returning.

grateful to be back

Expresses thankfulness for the opportunity to return.

willing to come back

Focuses on the willingness rather than the emotional aspect of returning.

fortunate to return

Highlights the luck or good fortune associated with being able to return.

appreciate returning

Shows gratitude for the return or the possibility of returning.

find joy in returning

Highlights the positive emotional experience of the return itself.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "happy to return"?

You can use alternatives like "pleased to come back", "glad to be back", or "delighted to return" depending on the context.

How do I use "happy to return" in a sentence?

The phrase "happy to return" is typically followed by a prepositional phrase or an infinitive. For example, "I am happy to return to my hometown" or "She is happy to return to work after her vacation."

Is it correct to say "happily returning" instead of "happy to return"?

While "happily returning" isn't grammatically incorrect, it emphasizes the action of returning being done in a happy manner, while "happy to return" focuses on the state of being happy about the return. The better option depends on the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "glad to return" and "happy to return"?

The phrases "glad to return" and "happy to return" are largely interchangeable and have similar meanings. "Happy" might suggest a slightly stronger emotion, while "glad" is a more general expression of pleasure.