returning the favor

A form of return the favor — To do something for someone, or to someone, similar to what they did for you or to you (whether good or bad).

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Meanings

verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of return the favor
Cite this entry
APA

returning the favor. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/returning%20the%20favor

MLA

“returning the favor.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/returning%20the%20favor. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “returning the favor,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/returning%20the%20favor.

Source: returning the favor on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.