Return vs. Comeback: What's the Difference?

Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on October 11, 2023

"Return" means to go back or give back, while "Comeback" often refers to a resurgence or revival after a period of obscurity or absence.

Key Differences

"Return" is a versatile word that primarily captures the idea of going back to a previous state, place, or condition. It can indicate the act of coming or going back, both physically and metaphorically. For example, one might return a book to the library or emotions might return after repression.

In contrast, "Comeback" carries a more specific nuance. It's about making a resurgence, especially after a period of decline, absence, or adversity. The term is often used in entertainment, sports, or public life. For instance, an athlete might make a comeback after an injury.

The concept of "Return" can also relate to giving something back or reciprocating. In commerce, for instance, customers might return products that don't meet their expectations. It's about a two-way action where something goes back to its origin or is given back.

"Comeback," on the other hand, has a celebratory or triumphant undertone. When someone makes a comeback, it's seen as a victorious return against the odds. It's about overcoming challenges and emerging stronger, often surprising the audience or onlookers.

In essence, while "Return" leans towards the general act of going back or reverting, "Comeback" is about resurgence, typically laced with a sense of achievement or triumph after overcoming a challenging period or situation.

Comparison Chart

Basic Meaning

Going back or reverting

Resurgence after a decline or absence

Usage Context

General, in many contexts

Often specific to revivals in careers or trends

Tone

Neutral

Often positive or triumphant

Reciprocity

Can imply giving back or reciprocation

Doesn't necessarily imply reciprocity

Association with Time

May not suggest a long time since the previous state

Typically implies a notable period of absence

Return and Comeback Definitions

Return

To go or come back, as to an earlier condition or place

She returned to her office after lunch.

Comeback

A resurgence in performance after a setback.

After his injury, the player made a successful comeback.

Return

A yield or profit from an investment.

The investment had a high return.

Comeback

A return to popularity after a decline.

The band made an incredible comeback with their new album.

Return

The act of giving back a product due to dissatisfaction.

I had to make a return at the store today.

Comeback

A quick reply to a critical remark.

She had a witty comeback for every insult.

Return

To revert in speech, thought, or practice

I returned to my knitting after answering the phone.

Comeback

A revival of an old style or trend.

Vinyl records are making a comeback.

Return

To revert to a former owner.

Comeback

A return to formerly enjoyed status or prosperity

The film star made an unexpected comeback.

Return

To answer or respond

I said hello to him, and he returned in kind.

Comeback

A return to popularity

Wide ties are making a comeback this year.

Return

To send, put, or carry back

We return bottles to the store.

Comeback

The act of making up a deficit, as in a contest or game.

Return

To give or send back in reciprocation

She returned his praise.

Comeback

A reply, especially a quick witty one; a retort.

Return

To give back to the owner

He returned her book.

Comeback

A return (e.g. to popularity, success, etc.) after an extended period of obscurity or underperformance.

That fad went out with the eighties, but I think it's making a comeback.

Return

To reflect or send back

The echo was returned by the canyon wall.

Comeback

A retort or answer, particularly a quick or clever one.

I wish I had thought of a quick comeback for his comment.

Return

To produce or yield (profit or interest) as a payment for labor, investment, or expenditure.

Comeback

(sports) An occurrence of an athlete or sports team in a competition overcoming a substantial disadvantage in points to win or draw.

Return

To submit (an official report, for example) to a judge or other person in authority.

Comeback

Misspelling of come back

Return

To render or deliver (a writ or verdict, for example) to the proper officer or court of law.

Comeback

A quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one);

It brought a sharp rejoinder from the teacher

Return

To elect or reelect, as to a legislative body.

Comeback

Return by a celebrity to some previously successful activity

Return

(Games) To respond to (a partner's lead) by leading the same suit in cards.

Comeback

A return to one's former position or status.

After years abroad, he made a comeback in the local theater scene.

Return

(Architecture) To turn away from or place at an angle to the previous line of direction.

Return

(Sports) To hit or send back (a tennis ball, for example) to one's opponent.

Return

(Football) To run with (the ball) after a kickoff, punt, interception, or fumble.

Return

The act or condition of going, coming, bringing, or sending back

After my return, we can discuss this matter further.

Return

The act of bringing or sending something back to a previous place, condition, or owner

The late return of a library book.

Return

Something brought or sent back.

Return

Returns Merchandise returned, as to a retailer by a consumer or to a wholesaler by a retailer.

Return

Something that goes or comes back.

Return

A recurrence, as of a periodic occasion or event

The return of spring.

Return

Something exchanged for that received; repayment.

Return

A reply; a response.

Return

The profit made on an exchange of goods.

Return

Often returns A profit or yield, as from labor or investments.

Return

Output or yield per unit rather than cost per unit, as in the manufacturing of a particular product.

Return

A report, list, or set of statistics, especially one that is formal or official.

Return

Often returns A report on the vote in an election.

Return

Chiefly British An election.

Return

(Games) A lead in certain card games that responds to the lead of one's partner.

Return

The act of hitting or sending the ball back to one's opponent.

Return

The ball thus sent back.

Return

The act of running back the ball after a kickoff, punt, interception, or fumble.

Return

The yardage so gained.

Return

The extension of a molding, projection, or other part at an angle (usually 90°) to the main part.

Return

A part of a building set at an angle to the façade.

Return

A turn, bend, or similar reversal of direction, as in a stream or road.

Return

A pipe or conduit for carrying something, especially water, back to its starting point.

Return

The key or mechanism on a machine, such as a typewriter, that positions the carriage or printing element at the beginning of a new line.

Return

A key on a computer keyboard or keypad used to begin a new line or paragraph in a text editor.

Return

Chiefly British A roundtrip ticket.

Return

The bringing or sending back of a writ, subpoena, or other document, generally with a short written report on it, by a sheriff or other officer to the court from which it was issued.

Return

A certified report by an assessor, election officer, collector, or other official.

Return

A formal tax statement on the required official form indicating taxable income, allowed deductions, exemptions, and the computed tax that is due. Also called income tax return, tax return.

Return

Of, relating to, or bringing about a going or coming back to a place or situation

The return voyage.

A return envelope.

Return

Given, sent, or done in reciprocation or exchange

A return volley.

A return invitation.

Return

Performed, presented, or taking place again

A return engagement of the ballet.

A return tennis match.

Return

Returning or affording return or recirculation

A return plumbing pipe.

A return valve.

Return

Reversing or changing direction.

Return

Having or formed by a reversal or change in direction; returning on itself, as a bend in a road or stream.

Return

(intransitive) To come or go back (to a place or person).

Although the birds fly north for the summer, they return here in winter.

Return

(intransitive) To go back in thought, narration, or argument.

To return to my story...

Return

(intransitive) To recur; to come again.

Winter returns every year.

Return

To turn back, retreat.

Return

To turn (something) round.

Return

(transitive) To place or put back something where it had been.

Please return your hands to your lap.

Return

(transitive) To give something back to its original holder or owner.

You should return the library book within one month.

Return

(transitive) To take back something to a vendor for a complete or partial refund.

Yeah, it's $600,000 but, if it doesn't work, you can always return it. As long as it's undamaged and in the original packaging, I'll give you a full refund.

Return

To give in requital or recompense; to requite.

Return

(tennis) To bat the ball back over the net in response to a serve.

The player couldn't return the serve because it was so fast.

Return

(card games) To play a card as a result of another player's lead.

If one players plays a trump, the others must return a trump.

Return

(cricket) To throw a ball back to the wicket-keeper (or a fielder at that position) from somewhere in the field.

Return

(transitive) To say in reply; to respond.

To return an answer;

To return thanks;

"Do it yourself!" she returned.

Return

To relinquish control to the calling procedure.

Return

To pass (data) back to the calling procedure.

This function returns the number of files in the directory.

Return

To retort; to throw back.

To return the lie

Return

(transitive) To report, or bring back and make known.

To return the result of an election

Return

To elect according to the official report of the election officers.

Return

The act of returning.

I expect the house to be spotless upon my return.

Return

A return ticket.

Do you want a one-way or a return?

Return

An item that is returned, e.g. due to a defect, or the act of returning it.

Last year there were 250 returns of this product, an improvement on the 500 returns the year before.

Return

An answer.

A return to one's question

Return

An account, or formal report, of an action performed, of a duty discharged, of facts or statistics, etc.; especially, in the plural, a set of tabulated statistics prepared for general information.

Election returns; a return of the amount of goods produced or sold

Return

Gain or loss from an investment.

It yielded a return of 5%.

Return

A report of income submitted to a government for purposes of specifying exact tax payment amounts; a tax return.

Hand in your return within 90 days of the end of the tax year.

Return

(computing) A carriage return character.

Return

(computing) The act of relinquishing control to the calling procedure.

Return

(computing) A return value: the data passed back from a called procedure.

Return

A return pipe, returning fluid to a boiler or other central plant (compare with flow pipe, which carries liquid away from a central plant).

The boiler technician had to cut out the heating return to access the safety valve.

Return

A short perpendicular extension of a desk, usually slightly lower.

Return

(American football) The act of catching a ball after a punt and running it back towards the opposing team.

Return

(cricket) A throw from a fielder to the wicket-keeper or to another fielder at the wicket.

Return

(architecture) The continuation in a different direction, most often at a right angle, of a building, face of a building, or any member, such as a moulding; applied to the shorter in contradistinction to the longer.

A facade of sixty feet east and west has a return of twenty feet north and south.

Return

To turn back; to go or come again to the same place or condition.

On their embattled ranks the waves return.

If they returned out of bondage, it must be into a state of freedom.

Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Return

To come back, or begin again, after an interval, regular or irregular; to appear again.

With the yearSeasons return; but not me returnsDay or the sweet approach of even or morn.

Return

To speak in answer; to reply; to respond.

He said, and thus the queen of heaven returned.

Return

To revert; to pass back into possession.

And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David.

Return

To go back in thought, narration, or argument.

Return

To bring, carry, send, or turn, back; as, to return a borrowed book, or a hired horse.

Both fled attonce, ne ever back returned eye.

Return

To repay; as, to return borrowed money.

Return

To give in requital or recompense; to requite.

The Lord shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head.

Return

To give back in reply; as, to return an answer; to return thanks.

Return

To retort; to throw back; as, to return the lie.

If you are a malicious reader, you return upon me, that I affect to be thought more impartial than I am.

Return

To report, or bring back and make known.

And all the people answered together, . . . and Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord.

Return

To render, as an account, usually an official account, to a superior; to report officially by a list or statement; as, to return a list of stores, of killed or wounded; to return the result of an election.

Return

Hence, to elect according to the official report of the election officers.

Return

To bring or send back to a tribunal, or to an office, with a certificate of what has been done; as, to return a writ.

Return

To convey into official custody, or to a general depository.

Instead of a ship, he should levy money, and return the same to the treasurer for his majesty's use.

Return

To bat (the ball) back over the net.

Return

To lead in response to the lead of one's partner; as, to return a trump; to return a diamond for a club.

Return

The act of returning (intransitive), or coming back to the same place or condition; as, the return of one long absent; the return of health; the return of the seasons, or of an anniversary.

At the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.

His personal return was most required and necessary.

Return

The act of returning (transitive), or sending back to the same place or condition; restitution; repayment; requital; retribution; as, the return of anything borrowed, as a book or money; a good return in tennis.

You made my liberty your late request:Is no return due from a grateful breast?

Return

That which is returned.

I do expect returnOf thrice three times the value of this bond.

Return

An answer; as, a return to one's question.

The fruit from many days of recreation is very little; but from these few hours we spend in prayer, the return is great.

Return

The continuation in a different direction, most often at a right angle, of a building, face of a building, or any member, as a molding or mold; - applied to the shorter in contradistinction to the longer; thus, a facade of sixty feet east and west has a return of twenty feet north and south.

Return

The rendering back or delivery of writ, precept, or execution, to the proper officer or court.

Return

An official account, report, or statement, rendered to the commander or other superior officer; as, the return of men fit for duty; the return of the number of the sick; the return of provisions, etc.

Return

The turnings and windings of a trench or mine.

Return

Document giving the tax collector information about the taxpayer's tax liability;

His gross income was enough that he had to file a tax return

Return

A coming to or returning home;

On his return from Australia we gave him a welcoming party

Return

The occurrence of a change in direction back in the opposite direction

Return

Getting something back again;

Upon the restitution of the book to its rightful owner the child was given a tongue lashing

Return

The act of returning to a prior location;

They set out on their return to the base camp

Return

The income arising from land or other property;

The average return was about 5%

Return

Happening again (especially at regular intervals);

The return of spring

Return

A quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one);

It brought a sharp rejoinder from the teacher

Return

The key on electric typewriters or computer keyboards that causes a carriage return and a line feed

Return

A reciprocal group action;

In return we gave them as good as we got

Return

A tennis stroke that returns the ball to the other player;

He won the point on a cross-court return

Return

(American football) the act of running back the ball after a kickoff or punt or interception or fumble

Return

The act of someone appearing again;

His reappearance as Hamlet has been long awaited

Return

Come back to place where one has been before, or return to a previous activity

Return

Give back;

Render money

Return

Go back to a previous state;

We reverted to the old rules

Return

Go back to something earlier;

This harks back to a previous remark of his

Return

Bring back to the point of departure

Return

Return in kind;

Return a compliment

Return her love

Return

Make a return;

Return a kickback

Return

Answer back

Return

Be restored;

Her old vigor returned

Return

Pay back;

Please refund me my money

Return

Pass down;

Render a verdict

Deliver a judgment

Return

Elect again

Return

Be inherited by;

The estate fell to my sister

The land returned to the family

The estate devolved to an heir that everybody had assumed to be dead

Return

Return to a previous position; in mathematics;

The point returned to the interior of the figure

Return

Give or supply;

The cow brings in 5 liters of milk

This year's crop yielded 1,000 bushels of corn

The estate renders some revenue for the family

Return

Submit (a report, etc.) to someone in authority;

Submit a bill to a legislative body

Return

To go or come back to a place or person.

She will return home next week.

Return

To give back something.

Please return the book you borrowed.

Return

A recurrence or reappearance.

The return of the cold weather was unexpected.

FAQs

Can "return" refer to a physical movement?

Yes, "return" can mean to go back to a previous place.

Is "comeback" always about success?

While often positive, a "comeback" just implies a return, not always success.

Can emotions "return"?

Yes, emotions can return or resurface after being suppressed.

Are comebacks always planned?

Not necessarily; some comebacks happen organically.

Is every "comeback" a "return"?

Yes, every "comeback" is a form of return, but not every return is a comeback.

Can "return" also mean "reply"?

Yes, "return" can mean to give a response, as in "return a call."

What's the opposite of "return"?

"Depart" or "leave" can be opposites of "return."

Does a "return ticket" mean you come back?

Yes, it allows for a journey back to the starting point.

Is a "return" always physical?

No, "return" can be metaphorical, like a return to a previous state.

Can a brand make a "comeback"?

Yes, brands can make comebacks if they regain popularity after a decline.

Is "comeback" used in sports?

Yes, athletes often make comebacks after injuries or retirements.

Can "return" imply repetition?

Yes, especially when referring to recurrent events or situations.

Can a fashion trend make a "comeback"?

Yes, when old fashion trends become popular again, they're making a comeback.

Can a "comeback" refer to a response?

Yes, especially when replying to criticism or a challenge.

Do all stores accept returns?

No, return policies vary by store.

Is a "comeback story" always true?

While many are, some comeback stories can be fictional or exaggerated.

Do all comebacks involve adversity?

While many do, not all comebacks involve overcoming adversity.

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About Author

Written by

Janet White

Janet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.

Edited by

Aimie Carlson

Aimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.