return

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "return" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in various contexts, such as when asking someone to come back or to give something back. Example: "Please return the book to the library by the end of the week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Thirteen support Nihon Kaigi, a nationalist think-tank that advocates a return to 'traditional values' and rejects Japan's 'apology diplomacy' for its wartime misdeeds.

The New York Times

He said he was "disappointed" by the decision to pull the bill, but suggested party leadership would return to the issue when they could be confident they would have the votes to pass it.

The Guardian

"The idea has been that you had to sacrifice return but that is not true," he said.

The Guardian

Their return to the elite in 2013 was played out under another three managers and via a play-off success over Brighton & Hove Albion that was briefly overshadowed by "Poogate".

The Guardian - Sport

Clearly, he hadn't bargained on the fact that "paying forward" for the stunt would entail losing his wife, his cat, his last remaining money, and any hope of shopping at the mall again for 12 months after Bloomington police ordered him not to return to the scene for a year.

The Guardian - Opinion

"In connection with the completion of the routine springtime training phase for troops that involved their deployment to training grounds in the Rostov, Belgorod and Bryansk regions, among others, the president of Russia gave the command to the defence minister to return the troops taking part in the exercises to their home bases," the Kremlin said.

The Guardian

The player himself, however, seemed utterly convinced that he would return from this latest setback soon enough, saying: "My career is not over.

The Guardian - Sport

Theresa Villiers, the Northern Ireland secretary, also appealed to unionist leaders to return to the negotiating table over controversial parades, the flying of flags and the legacy of Ulster's violent past.

The Guardian

That means Germany, in particular, has to decide what guarantees it is prepared to give and what it wants to see in return.

The Guardian - Business

While the decision disappointed some, particularly those trumpeting the charismatic claims of Yousafzai, the decision marks something of a return to the tradition of honouring work directly connected to disarmament, after the EU in 2012 and the even more controversial prize to Barack Obama in 2009.

The Guardian

It gives the ecosystem a holistic boost, encouraging wildlife like bush pigeons and rabbits to return, and providing welcome human benefits such as wood cuttings for cooking and new food sources such as tamarind.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about financial gains, use "return" to specifically indicate the profit or yield from an investment. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

In formal contexts, avoid using "return" repeatedly in close proximity. Vary your word choice with synonyms like "revert", "restore", or "give back" to improve readability and maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The word "return" functions as both a verb and a noun. As a verb, it signifies going back or giving something back. As a noun, it can refer to the act of returning, a profit, or a report. As Ludwig AI confirms, "return" is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Sports

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "return" functions as both a verb and a noun with multiple meanings, ranging from going back to a place to describing a financial yield. As Ludwig AI indicates, the word is grammatically correct and highly versatile. It appears most frequently in news and media sources, and maintains a neutral register applicable across various formal and informal settings. For clarity, consider using synonyms like "go back", "give back", or "yield" depending on the context to avoid overuse and improve the precision of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

go back

Focuses specifically on the act of going back to a place or state.

come back

Emphasizes the idea of returning to a previous location or condition.

give back

Highlights the action of restoring something to its original owner or location.

restore

Implies returning something to a former condition or place.

revert

Suggests returning to a previous state, practice or belief.

reappear

Focuses on becoming visible or present again.

yield

In the context of investment, focuses on the amount gained.

retort

Specifically refers to a sharp or witty reply.

refund

Refers specifically to the act of giving money back after a purchase.

recoup

Emphasizes the regaining of something lost, especially money or an advantage.

FAQs

How can I use "return" in a sentence?

"Return" can be used as a verb meaning to go back or give back, as in "Please return the book to the library", or as a noun referring to the act of returning or a profit, as in "The investment yielded a good return".

What's the difference between "return" and "come back"?

"Return" implies a more formal or official action of going back. "Come back" is more casual and generally refers to a simple act of going back to a place or state.

What can I say instead of "return" when referring to profit?

When referring to profit, you can use alternatives like "yield", "profit", or "gain" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "return back"?

Saying "return back" is often redundant because "return" already implies going back. It's generally better to simply use "return".