comeback

1 of 2

noun

come·​back ˈkəm-ˌbak 

1

a

: a sharp or witty reply : retort

b

: a cause for complaint

2

: a return to a former position or condition (as of success or prosperity) : recovery, revival

… staging his ultimate comeback from self-imposed exile in Belgium.

—Howard Mandel

These days, the cocktail—the true cocktail—is said to be making a comeback.

—Frank H. Prial

come back

2 of 2

verb

came back; come back; coming back; comes back

intransitive verb

1

: to return to life or vitality

2

: to return to memory

it's all coming back to me now

3

: reply, retort

when questioned, he came back with a vehement denial

4

a

: to regain a former favorable condition or position

b

: to recover from a deficit in a contest or competition

… it was the first time in NHL history that a team was down by three goals inside the final five minutes and came back to win a game.

—Mike Harrington

Synonyms

Noun

• repartee
• retort
• riposte

Verb

• convalesce
• gain
• heal
• mend
• pull round [chiefly British]
• rally
• recoup
• recover
• recuperate
• snap back

Examples of comeback in a Sentence

Noun

The species was nearly extinct but is now making a comeback.

Short skirts were out of fashion for many years, but now they're making a comeback.

The team was trailing after the first half, but they made a comeback and won in the second half.

The team mounted a comeback in the second half of the season.

Verb

she's slowly coming back after being in a coma

the American bald eagle was once nearly extinct but has come back strong

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In an interview with Time that was published Thursday, Trump said his historic White House comeback reflected the deep anger among Americans over the direction of the nation. —Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 12 Dec. 2024

The Mavericks mounted a comeback as Dončić and Kyrie Irving finally found their offensive rhythm in the fourth. —Kevin Dotson, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024

Verb

Repeat entries, those who were previously deported and come back, this issue hits close to home for us. —Bethany Blankley | The Center Square Contributor, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 15 Dec. 2024

All hydrangeas are perennials that come back with their luscious blooms year-after-year, but, within the larger hydrangea family, there are two types: old wood hydrangeas and new wood hydrangeas. —Heather Bien, Southern Living, 15 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1889, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1860, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Kids Definition

comeback

noun

come·​back ˈkəm-ˌbak 

1

: retort entry 2

2

: a return to a former position or condition (as of health, power, popularity, or prosperity) : recovery