come back

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come back (third-person singular simple present comes back, present participle coming back, simple past came back, past participle come back)

1. (intransitive) To return to a place.
   • 1921 June, Margery Williams, “The Velveteen Rabbit: Or How Toys Become Real”, in Harper’s Bazar, volume LVI, number 6 (2504 overall), New York, N.Y.: International Magazine Company, →ISSN, →OCLC:

     But he never knew that it really was his own Bunny, come back to look at the child who had first helped him to be Real.

2. (intransitive) To return to one's possession, especially of memories.

   Suddenly it all came back to him, the tea, the petite madeleines, his mother.

3. (intransitive) To return to a relationship with a former romantic partner.
   • 2009 July 14, Ingrid Michaelson, “Maybe”, in Everybody‎^[1]:

     […] I don't wanna sit on the pavement while you fly / But I will, I will, oh yes I will / 'Cause maybe, in the future, you're gonna come back, you're gonna come back around / Maybe, in the future, you're gonna come back, you're gonna come back […]

4. (intransitive) To return to a former state, usually a desirable one; to become fashionable once more.

   Many people counted him out, but he came back better than ever.

   Paisley is coming back this year.

   I'll come back to the harder questions after finishing the rest of the test.

5. (intransitive) To retort.

   He came back with one of his snide remarks.

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