returned from lunch

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "returned from lunch" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone has come back after taking a break for lunch. Example: "After a brief meeting, she returned from lunch and resumed her work on the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

The teacher said they had just returned from lunch and she had forgotten to turn on the lights.

The New York Times

Traders returned from lunch to reports suggesting the financial crisis was taking a toll on the global economy.

The New York Times

The tension burst into the open one afternoon, when jurors returned from lunch to find an empty chair in the dock.

Independent

Office buildings swayed and workers who had just returned from lunch ran out of buildings and gathered in the street or car parks.

Independent

But at 1 25 p.m., as the jury returned from lunch, the foreman asked the judge for more time to deliberate.

The New York Times

Wayne Cascio, a professor of human resources at the University of Colorado-Denver, recalls a technology firm whose staff returned from lunch to find that their security cards no longer worked.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

When he returns from lunch one plane is missing.

The New Yorker

One afternoon, on returning from lunch, I found her crying her heart out at the switchboard.

The New Yorker

Only returning from lunch with a selection of delicious pastries could make you any more popular.

The Guardian - Money

Mr. Ahern had been returning from lunch when he witnessed the shooting, the mayor said.

The New York Times

He had been returning from lunch in the basement of the building when he saw Ms. Shelly in an elevator.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "returned from lunch" to clearly indicate a resumption of activities after a midday break. It is suitable for formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid unnecessarily using passive constructions like "was returned from lunch". Prefer the active voice for clarity and conciseness: "He returned from lunch".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "returned from lunch" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a return to a place or activity following a midday meal. Ludwig provides examples where this phrase denotes resumption of work, meetings, or other regular routines after a break.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

12%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Science

4%

Academia

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "returned from lunch" is a common and grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to indicate the action of returning to a place or activity after a midday break. As shown by Ludwig, it is frequently used in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. While the phrase itself is neutral, it can be replaced with synonyms such as "came back after lunch" or "got back from lunch" for a more informal tone. Ludwig AI confirms the expression's correctness and usability. When writing, ensure to use active voice constructions for better clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

came back after lunch

Uses "came back" instead of "returned", offering a more informal tone.

got back from lunch

Employs "got back", which is a common and slightly more casual alternative to "returned".

reappeared after lunch

Suggests a sense of being missed or absent before lunch.

resumed activities after lunch

Focuses on the continuation of activities post-lunch, rather than the return itself. More formal.

back from midday break

Highlights that the break was during midday. Slightly less common.

arrived after luncheon

Uses "luncheon" which is a more formal term for lunch, and "arrived" emphasizing the arrival.

rejoined after lunch

Implies a rejoining of a group or activity that was ongoing before lunch.

was back following lunch

This is a passive way to express the same action.

reported back after lunch

Conveys a sense of duty or obligation to return.

having finished lunch

This option focuses more on finishing lunch, than returning.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "returned from lunch"?

You can use alternatives like "came back after lunch", "got back from lunch", or "reappeared after lunch" depending on the context.

How to use "returned from lunch" in a sentence?

You can use "returned from lunch" to describe someone's action after a break. For example, "After a brief meeting, she returned from lunch and resumed her work on the project."

Is "returned from lunch" formal or informal?

"Returned from lunch" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, alternatives like "got back from lunch" are slightly more informal.

What is the difference between "returned from lunch" and "returned after lunch"?

"Returned from lunch" is more common, indicating the action of returning after the lunch break. "Returned after lunch" is grammatically correct, but less frequently used and may imply a longer duration or a series of events happening during or after lunch.