1 [singular] : the act of coming or going back to the place you started from or to a place where you were before
▪ We are looking forward to your return. ▪ We're looking forward to our return to Europe. ▪ What is the date of her return from Mexico? [=when is she coming back from Mexico?] ▪ Upon/on his return [=(less formally) when he returned; when he came back], he found a note taped to the door. ▪ The bad weather delayed his return home. [=his return to his home] ▪ I stopped by your house on my return home. [=on my way home] ▪ She became sick on her return from America. [=she became sick at the time she returned from America] 2 [singular] : the act of going back to an activity, job, situation, etc. : the act of starting to do something again after stopping
▪ The team looked forward to his return to coaching. ▪ a return to the old ways of farming ▪ He managed the team last year, so his return as a player [=his return to the team as a player and not as a manager] was a surprise. 3 [singular] a : the fact that something (such as a condition, feeling, or situation) happens again — + of ▪ the return of peace to the region ▪ Scientists noticed a return [=recurrence] of the disease in the monkeys. ▪ She noticed a return of his old habits. ▪ the return of spring
b : the fact that someone or something changes to a condition or state that existed before
▪ the department's return to normal ▪ The people celebrated their leader's return to power. 4 [singular] : the act of taking someone or something back to the proper place — + of ▪ The police arranged for the return of the stolen goods. [=for the goods to be taken to the place they were stolen from] ▪ The mother demanded a safe return of her child. [=demanded that her child would be brought back to her and not be hurt] 5 a [count] : something that is brought or sent back to a store or business because it does not work or fit properly, is damaged, is not needed, etc.
▪ The store does not accept returns more than 30 days after purchase.
b returns [plural] chiefly US : empty cans or bottles that are brought back to a store so that they can be used again 6 finance : the profit from an investment or business [count] ▪ Investors are promised a return. ▪ The company had poor returns last year. — often + on ▪ He received a large return on his investment. [=he made a lot of money on his investment] [noncount] ▪ The stock has had a high rate of return. — sometimes used figuratively ▪ Her son's success in college was an excellent return on her investment. ▪ She expected some return from the company for all her years of loyal service. 7 returns [plural] : a report of the results of voting
▪ election returns 8 [count] : a report that you send to the government about the money that you have earned and the taxes that you have paid in one year
▪ He has copies of his returns for the last 15 years. ▪ We filed our (income) tax return. [=we sent our tax return to the government] ▪ He filed his 2007 tax return in February of 2008. 9 [count] sports : the act of returning a ball
▪ (tennis) She hit a powerful return. [=she hit back the ball that was served to her very hard] ▪ (American football) a 50-yard kickoff/punt/fumble return [=a 50-yard run with the ball after getting it on a kickoff/punt/fumble] 10 [count] Brit : a ticket for a trip that takes you to a place and back to the place you started from : a round-trip ticket
▪ One return is often less expensive than buying two one-way tickets. ▪ a day return [=a reduced-price ticket for traveling to a place and back on the same day]