come back

present singular third person comes back · participle present coming back · past came back

1. intransitiveTo return to a place.

   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.

   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

2. intransitiveTo return to one's possession, especially of memories.

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

3. intransitiveTo return to a relationship with a former romantic partner.

   […] 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[…]

   2009 July 14, Ingrid Michaelson, “Maybe”, in Everybody

4. intransitiveTo return to a former state, usually a desirable one; to become fashionable once more.

   Paisley is coming back this year.

   2 more examples

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

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

5. intransitiveTo retort.

   He came back with one of his snide remarks.