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# return

verb (return, returns, returned, returning); noun (a return, returns); adjective (return — as in a return ticket)

«return» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To return is to come back or go back to a place. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/return/#m1)
2. To return something is to give it back or bring it back. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/return/#m2)
3. A return is the going back, or the coming back: on her return. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/return/#m3)
4. A return (ticket, trip) is there and back. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/return/#m4)
5. Return is also the key on a keyboard for a new line, and money earned back. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/return/#m5)
6. To return can also mean to answer someone in speech. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/return/#m6)

### In the lessons

In maths: coming back on a trip (the way back adds distance) or giving back books, money or things; a return trip doubles a distance (there and back). In everyday life: returning library books, returning a faulty toy to the shop, «many happy returns». In science: a boomerang returns; birds return in spring. In stories: «the hero's return».

### Examples

- He drove 30 miles to the lake and returned home. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/return/#x1)
- She returned 4 library books. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/return/#x2)
- The shop returned $5 to him. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/return/#x3)
- The return trip took 2 hours. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/return/#x4)
- Please return your books by Friday. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/return/#x5)
- The swallows return every spring. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/return/#x6)
- A boomerang returns to the thrower. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/return/#x7)
- She bought a return ticket to the city. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/return/#x8)
- Press return to start a new line. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/return/#x9)
- "No, sir, by design," returned Aladdin. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/return/#x10)

### Note

A return trip often doubles a distance (there and back); things returned to someone are added to them and taken from the giver. Trap: forgetting the way back in a round trip. «Return back» is extra: «return» already means go back. UK «return ticket» = US «round-trip ticket».

## In Jewish tradition

In the Torah it often means to go back to a place, and also to turn back to God. The Hebrew word for repentance, teshuvah, comes from this same idea of turning back.

**Interpretation.** Tradition says that to return to God is to repent, and the festival of Yom Kippur is about this kind of returning.

### Examples

- And Laban departed, and returned unto his place. (Torah GEN.31.55, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/return/#x1)
- Go say to them: Return ye to your tents. (Torah DEU.5.30, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/return/#x2)
- So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir. (Torah GEN.33.16, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/return/#x3)
- And he returned, and came to Achish. (Prophets 1SA.27.9, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/return/#x4)
- Then David returned to bless his household. (Prophets 2SA.6.20, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/return/#x5)
- And Mordecai returned to the king's gate. (Writings EST.6.12, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/return/#x6)

### Note

A return trip often doubles a distance (there and back); things returned to someone are added to them and taken from the giver. Trap: forgetting the way back in a round trip. «Return back» is extra: «return» already means go back. UK «return ticket» = US «round-trip ticket».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «return» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/return/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«return» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/return.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «return» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/return/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«return» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/return.html) on Mova free.