return

/rɪˈtɜːn/ (bre, ipa) · /rɪˈtɜːrn/ (ame, ipa) · /ri-ˈtərn/ (ame, mw) · /rɪˈtɝːn/ (ame, ipa)

return — 動詞

  • returnpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • returnshe / she / it
  • returnedpast simple
  • returning-ing form

1. to go or come back to a place you were in before, after leaving it for a period

1.動詞不及物A2
釋義

返回;回去

回到之前所在的地點

to go or come back to a place you were in before, after leaving it for a period of time

例句

Sana returned to her hometown after living in Canada for five years.

Sana 在加拿大住了五年後返回了她的家鄉。

return + to [place] for destination

Gabriel returned from the conference feeling inspired by the new ideas.

Gabriel 從會議回來,對新的點子感到振奮。

return + from [place] for origin

同義詞
  • go back

    less formal than 'return'; used in everyday speech

  • come back

    focuses on arrival at the speaker's location rather than departure

  • get back

    informal; emphasizes the end of a journey

反義詞
  • leave

    to go away from a place

文法句型

return + to [place]

return + from [place]

return + to infinitive

用法筆記

Subject is typically a person, vehicle, or animal. The destination is introduced by 'to' and the origin by 'from'. 'Return home' uses no preposition.

常見錯誤

I returned back to the hotel.
I returned to the hotel.
💡'return' already means 'go back', so 'back' is redundant.
She returned to home.
She returned home.
💡'home' does not take a preposition after 'return'.

2. to move into a former condition, situation, or way of being after a period of ch

2.動詞不及物C1
釋義

恢復;回復

回到原有的狀態或情況

to move into a former condition, situation, or way of being after a period of change or disruption

例句

After the fever passed, Minh's face returned to its normal healthy colour.

燒退了之後,Minh 的臉色恢復了健康的顏色。

return + to + state: to normal

The garden returned to a wild state after nobody looked after it.

沒人照料之後,花園恢復了雜草叢生的野生狀態。

同義詞
  • revert

    more formal; often implies a return to a worse or more basic state

  • go back to

    less formal; common in everyday conversation

  • be restored to

    emphasizes an external force bringing back the previous state

反義詞
  • change

    to become different from a previous state

  • depart from

    to leave a usual or expected condition

文法句型

return + to [state/noun]

用法筆記

Subject can be a person's health or appearance, a natural environment, an economic indicator, or any entity that undergoes change. Frequently used with abstract nouns such as 'normal', 'health', 'peace', 'growth', and 'consciousness'.

常見錯誤

The city returned back to normal.
The city returned to normal.
💡'back' is redundant with 'return'.

3. to start doing or discussing something again after pausing or stopping it for a

3.動詞不及物B2
釋義

重返;繼續

繼續之前中斷的活動或討論

to start doing or discussing something again after pausing or stopping it for a period of time

例句

After the coffee break, the committee returned to the question of funding.

喝咖啡休息後,委員會回到了資金的問題上。

return to [topic] — resuming discussion

Let me return to what Omar was saying about the new safety rules.

讓我回到 Omar 剛才說的有關新安全規則的內容。

同義詞
  • resume

    more formal; directly means 'start again after stopping'

  • pick up again

    informal; implies continuing from where one left off

  • come back to

    idiomatic; common in spoken English for topics

反義詞
  • stop

    to cease an activity without resuming

  • abandon

    to give up an activity permanently

文法句型

return + to [activity/topic]

用法筆記

Followed by 'to' plus a noun or a gerund (e.g. 'return to work', 'return to discussing'). The gap in the activity can be short (minutes) or long (years).

常見錯誤

After a break, he returned working on the project.
After a break, he returned to working on the project.
💡The preposition 'to' is required.
Let's return back to the main topic.
Let's return to the main topic.
💡'Back' is redundant.

4. to match someone's action, feeling, or gift with the same kind of action, feelin

4.動詞及物C1
釋義

回報;回敬

以同樣方式回應他人的行為或感受

to match someone's action, feeling, or gift with the same kind of action, feeling, or gift directed back at them

例句

Kemi returned the favour by driving her elderly neighbour to the clinic.

Kemi 載年長的鄰居去診所,以回報對方之前幫過的忙。

collocation: return a favour

Omar smiled warmly at the waiter, who returned his smile at once.

Omar 對服務生溫暖地微笑,服務生也立刻回以微笑。

同義詞
  • reciprocate

    more formal; used for feelings, actions, or gestures

  • repay

    often used for favours or kindness; can also refer to debts

  • give back

    informal; more literal and less idiomatic

反義詞
  • ignore

    to deliberately not respond to someone's gesture

  • reject

    to refuse someone's offer or feeling

文法句型

return + something

用法筆記

Often appears in fixed expressions such as 'return a favour', 'return a greeting', 'return fire', and 'return the compliment'. The object is typically a positive or neutral action, though 'return fire' is a military exception.

常見錯誤

I returned the favour for my friend by helping him.
I returned the favour by helping my friend.
💡'Return the favour' already means 'reciprocate', so 'for' is unnecessary.
She returned his love back.
She returned his love.
💡'Back' is redundant with 'return'.

5. to answer someone's question, request, or remark, especially in a firm or direct

5.動詞及物B2
釋義

回答;回話

以堅定或直接的方式回應他人

to answer someone's question, request, or remark, especially in a firm or direct way that matches the tone of what was said to you

例句

"I am not interested," Lan returned firmly when asked about the contract offer.

「我沒興趣,」Lan 在被問到那份合約時堅定地回答。

return + direct speech — literary/formal register

The senator returned a sharp answer to the reporter's difficult question.

那位參議員對記者尖銳的問題報以犀利的回答。

return + a [noun]: answer, reply, response

同義詞
  • reply

    neutral register; works in both speech and writing

  • retort

    implies a quick, witty, or angry reply

  • answer

    the most common and neutral word for responding

反義詞

文法句型

return + direct speech

return + a [answer/reply]

用法筆記

This sense belongs to formal written English, especially literary narration and journalism. Unlike 'answer' or 'reply', it is not used in ordinary conversation. The reply typically echoes the tone or structure of the original remark.

常見錯誤

I returned that I was busy.' (in casual speech)
I replied that I was busy.
💡'Return' in the sense of 'reply' sounds unnatural in everyday conversation; use 'reply' or 'answer' instead.
She returned to his question with silence.
She returned no answer to his question.
💡'Return' in this sense takes a direct object (the reply), not a prepositional phrase.

6. to earn money as profit or financial gain from an investment, a business, or a p

6.動詞及物B2
釋義

獲利

帶來一定金額的利潤或收益

to earn money as profit or financial gain from an investment, a business, or a product

例句

The fund returned a profit of twelve percent in the last financial year.

該基金在上一會計年度獲利百分之十二。

return + a profit of [percentage/amount]

Madison's small bakery returned barely enough income to cover the rising rent.

Madison 的小麵包店賺來的收入勉強夠付不斷上漲的租金。

同義詞
  • yield

    common in financial contexts for investment returns; more technical

  • produce

    broader meaning; less specific to financial gain

  • bring in

    informal; often used for income from work or sales

反義詞
  • lose

    to fail to make money; to make a loss

文法句型

return + [amount]

return + [percentage] of profit

用法筆記

Subject is typically a financial product (investment, bond, fund), a business, or an asset (property). The object is an amount or percentage of profit, income, or returns. Common in financial reporting and business English.

常見錯誤

The shop returned a big profit back to us.
The shop returned a big profit.
💡'Back' is redundant with 'return'.
The company returned to a profit.' (if meaning 'produced profit')
The company returned a profit.
💡'Return to a profit' means 'become profitable again' (sense 2), not 'produce a profit' (sense 6).

7. to give, send, or put something back to the person who owns it or to the place i

7.動詞及物A2
釋義

歸還

把物品送回原處或物主

to give, send, or put something back to the person who owns it or to the place it came from

例句

Hui returned the books to the library before the due date.

Hui 在截止日期前把書歸還給圖書館。

return + object + to + place

The cashier refused to return the customer's money without a receipt.

沒有收據,收銀員拒絕退還顧客的錢。

同義詞
  • give back

    less formal, used mainly for objects given to their owner

  • restore

    more formal, suggests putting something back to its original condition or position

反義詞
  • keep

    to continue having something instead of giving it back

  • take

    to remove something from where it belongs

文法句型

return + object + to + person/place

用法筆記

Object is usually a physical item that was borrowed, bought, or found. The receiver is introduced by the preposition 'to'.

常見錯誤

I returned back the book to the library.
I returned the book to the library.
💡'return' already means 'give back', so 'back' is redundant.

8. to bring or send a person back to a place they came from or to someone who is re

8.動詞及物B1
釋義

送回

把人帶回原來的地方

to bring or send a person back to a place they came from or to someone who is responsible for them

例句

After the emergency, Christopher was returned to his family by the rescue team.

緊急狀況過後,Christopher 被救援隊送回到家人身邊。

passive: be returned + to + person

The school bus returned the children to their homes before the storm hit.

校車在暴風雨來臨前把孩子們送回家。

同義詞
  • bring back

    less formal, implies accompanying the person

  • send back

    implies the person travels without being accompanied

反義詞
  • keep

    to not allow someone to leave; to hold someone in a place

文法句型

return + person + to + place

be returned + to + place/person

用法筆記

The passive form ('be returned') is very common. The subject of the active sentence is typically an official, institution, or someone with authority.

9. when a ball comes towards you during a game such as tennis or badminton, to send

9.動詞及物B1
釋義

回擊

在球賽中把球打回去

when a ball comes towards you during a game such as tennis or badminton, to send it back across the net towards the other player

例句

Meera returned the serve with a powerful shot down the line.

Meera 用一記強勁的直線球回擊了對手的發球。

return + the serve

The player struggled to return the fast balls during the final game.

那位選手在決賽中難以回擊快速來球。

同義詞
  • hit back

    less formal, not specific to sports contexts

文法句型

return + object (ball/shot/serve)

用法筆記

Commonly used with 'serve', 'shot', and 'ball' as the object. In tennis, 'return of serve' is a standard phrase.

10. in American football, when a defending player catches a kicked ball and runs for

10.動詞及物B2
釋義

回跑推進

在美式足球中接球後帶球向前跑

in American football, when a defending player catches a kicked ball and runs forward with it towards the other team's goal area

例句

Vinícius returned the punt thirty yards to give his team good field position.

Vinícius 將棄踢回攻了三十碼,為球隊爭取了很好的進攻位置。

return + the punt + distance

The player returned the kickoff all the way for a touchdown.

那位球員將開球一路回攻到達陣區達陣。

return + the kickoff

文法句型

return + object (punt/kickoff/ball)

用法筆記

Used mainly in American football commentary. The object is typically 'punt', 'kickoff', or 'ball'. A player who does this is called a 'returner'.

11. to begin taking place once more after a period of not happening

11.動詞不及物B2
釋義

復發;再現

停止一段時間後再次發生

to begin taking place once more after a period of not happening

例句

Pain in the old woman's knee returned whenever she ran more than ten minutes.

每當那位老婦人跑步超過十分鐘,她的膝蓋疼痛就會復發。

subject (symptom/pain) + returns

Nellie hoped the sunny weather would return before the weekend trip.

Nellie 希望晴朗的天氣能在週末出遊前回來。

subject (weather) + returns

同義詞
  • come back

    less formal, more common in everyday conversation

  • recur

    more formal, often used in medical or technical contexts

  • resume

    implies a planned or expected continuation rather than an unwelcome reappearance

反義詞
  • stop

    to no longer happen or continue

  • disappear

    to go away and not be seen or felt any more

文法句型

something returns

X returns (after Y)

用法筆記

Subject is usually a condition, feeling, sound, or pattern that stops and then starts again. Frequently used for medical symptoms, weather, and unwanted situations.

常見錯誤

The rain returned back again.
The rain returned.' or 'The rain came back.
💡'return' already expresses the idea of happening again; 'back' and 'again' are redundant.

12. if a jury or a court returns a verdict, decision, or sentence, they officially s

12.動詞及物B2
釋義

裁定

陪審團或法官做出裁決

if a jury or a court returns a verdict, decision, or sentence, they officially state whether someone is guilty and what the punishment will be

例句

The jury returned a verdict of not guilty after three hours of discussion.

陪審團經過三小時討論後裁定被告無罪。

return + a verdict of [result]

The judge returned a sentence of five years in prison for the crime.

法官對該罪行判處五年有期徒刑。

return + a sentence

同義詞
  • deliver

    slightly more formal, used in exactly the same legal contexts

  • announce

    more general, less specific to court procedures

  • hand down

    informal, common in American legal reporting

文法句型

return + a verdict

return + a decision

return + a sentence

用法筆記

The object is almost always 'verdict', 'decision', 'sentence', or a similar legal term. The subject is 'jury', 'court', or 'judge'. This sense is separate from the other legal sense (index 13) which means 'to formally accuse someone'.

常見錯誤

The judge returned him guilty.
The jury returned a verdict of guilty.
💡the pattern is 'return + a verdict/decision', not 'return + person + adjective'.

13. when a grand jury or other official legal body issues a formal criminal charge a

13.動詞及物C1
釋義

起訴

陪審團或法律機構提出刑事指控

when a grand jury or other official legal body issues a formal criminal charge against a person after reviewing evidence and finding it sufficient to proceed to trial

例句

The grand jury returned an indictment against the former mayor on corruption charges.

大陪審團以前市長涉嫌貪腐為由,對他提起公訴。

collocation: return an indictment against [person]

After reviewing the evidence, the legal panel returned a charge of fraud against Nikos.

審查證據後,法律小組對 Nikos 提出了詐欺指控。

同義詞
  • indict

    more specific — only used for formal criminal charges

  • charge

    broader — can be used outside a grand jury context

  • prosecute

    focuses on the legal process that follows the formal accusation

反義詞
  • acquit

    opposite outcome — finding someone not guilty after trial

  • exonerate

    clearing someone of blame or accusation

文法句型

return + an indictment/charge (against someone)

be returned by + [legal body]

用法筆記

Primarily used in common-law legal systems, especially US grand jury proceedings. The object is typically 'indictment' or 'charge.' Unlike sibling sense 12 (DECIDE), which refers to a jury finding a defendant guilty or not guilty after a trial, this sense refers to the pre-trial decision to formally accuse.

常見錯誤

The judge returned an indictment against the defendant.
The grand jury returned an indictment against the defendant.
💡In legal usage, a grand jury (not a judge) returns an indictment.

14. to choose a person for a particular political position through an election, such

14.動詞及物B2
釋義

選出

經由選舉使某人擔任政治職位

to choose a person for a particular political position through an election, such as a seat in a parliament or a role in a local government

例句

The constituency returned Élise to parliament with a majority of over five thousand votes.

該選區以超過五千票的多數,將 Élise 再次選入國會。

pattern: constituency returned [person] to parliament

The incumbent MP was not returned to office in the last general election.

現任議員在上次大選中未能連任。

passive: was not returned to office

同義詞
  • elect

    more general — used for any elected position, not just political

  • vote in

    informal register

  • choose

    much broader, less formal

反義詞
  • defeat

    the opposite electoral outcome

  • oust

    removing someone from a political position

文法句型

be returned to [parliament/office]

return + [candidate] + to [position]

用法筆記

Common in British and Commonwealth political contexts. Unlike the general verb 'elect', 'return' emphasises the formal result — the constituency's collective choice as officially recorded. Often used in the passive ('be returned to parliament'). Typically not used for corporate or organisational appointments.

常見錯誤

The shareholders returned a new board of directors.
The constituency returned a new MP to parliament.
💡'Return' in this sense is limited to political elections, not corporate appointments.

return — 名詞

return — 形容詞