return the favor

idiom

: to do something the same or similar in return for something done
He treats them well, and they return the favor.

Examples of return the favor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The least the organization can do is return the favor and ride it out—through thick, thin, and whatever’s next. Brian Sampson, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025 To return the favor, Riho and her husband host weekly family dinners for their support crew as a way to give back to the people who have stood by them. Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 18 May 2025 Rakes often tries to return the favor by bringing in food for the department, too. Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025 To return the favor 10 years later, The Weeknd read out a statement hyping up Cruise's new movie Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning, which premieres in theaters on May 23. Michael Nied, People.com, 17 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for return the favor

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Cite this Entry

“Return the favor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/return%20the%20favor. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

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