Rientrare

Rientrare is an Italian verb meaning to return, to re-enter, or to come back inside or within a boundary. It can refer to physically going back to a place, rejoining a group, or returning to a prior state, condition, or limit. The sense can be literal (returning home) or figurative (returning within budget, within the rules, or within a schedule). The form also appears in phrases about clothing, where it can mean to fit into something again, as in rientrare in jeans after losing weight.

Etymology and classification: rientrare is formed from the prefix re- (again/back) and the verb intrare (to enter), through assimilation of the stem. It is a regular verb of the first conjugation (-are) in Italian.

Conjugation (essential forms):

- Present: io rientro, tu rientri, lui/lei rientra, noi rientriamo, voi rientrate, loro rientrano.

- Passato prossimo: sono rientrato/a; you can also hear informal alternatives using essere.

- Imperfect: rientravo, rientravi, rientrava, rientravamo, rientravate, rientravano.

- Future: rientrerò, rientrerai, rientrerà, rientreremo, rientreterete, rientranno.

- Conditional: rientrerei, rientreresti, rientrerebbe, rientreremmo, rientrereste, rientrerebbero.

- Subjunctive present: rientri, rientri, rientriamo, rientriate, rientrino.

Rientrare is used mainly intransitively and, in most contexts, pairs with essere in compound tenses (e.g., sono rientrato).

Usage notes: common contexts include rientrare a casa, rientrare nel budget, rientrare nei ranghi, and rientrare in un vestito. The verb collaborates with prepositions to specify direction or scope, such as in, dentro, o nei limiti.

Related terms: ritornare and tornare are close synonyms with subtle nuances; rientrare often emphasizes returning to an earlier place, state, or boundary. The noun rientro (return, re-entry) derives from the same family.