revenir

Senses

1. 1.

   to come back

   to return to a place or return after an absence

2. 2.

   to revert

   to go back to a previous state or topic

3. 3.

   to amount to

   to be equivalent or add up to (often with 'à')

4. 4.

   to befall

   to happen to someone, to fall to one's lot

Examples

• "Il est revenu de vacances hier."

  He came back from vacation yesterday.

• "Revenons à la question principale."

  Let's get back to the main question.

• "Cela revient à dire la même chose."

  That amounts to saying the same thing.

Usage

A very common verb, conjugated with the auxiliary *être* in compound tenses (passé composé, etc.). The expression "revenir à" is especially frequent, meaning "to come back to" or "to amount to." Avoid confusing with *venir* (to come)-*revenir* specifically implies a return.