rentrer

Rentrer is a French verb that primarily denotes returning to a place after being outside, or going back inside. It covers physical movement (to come back home, to re-enter a building or a country following an absence) as well as more figurative uses, such as bringing something back to a place or money coming in. In addition, the noun rentrée, derived from the same verb, can mean the act of returning or the start of a new season, notably the return to school.

Etymology and form: rentrer comes from the prefix re- attached to entrer (to enter). It shares the core sense of entering again or returning to a previous state or location. The verb is regular in its conjugation, but its auxiliary differs by sense: most intransitive uses take être in compound tenses (je suis rentré, elle est rentrée), while transitive uses can take avoir (j’ai rentré les outils dans le garage).

Usage and senses:

- Intransitive use: to go back inside or to return to a place after being away. Examples: Je rentre à la maison. Elle est rentrée tard. Le train est rentré au port.

- Transitive use: to bring something back inside or put something away. Examples: Rentrez les chaises dans la pièce. Il a rentré les outils dans le garage.

- Financial or productive sense: to bring in, to earn or yield money. Example: Cette activité rentre beaucoup d’argent.

See also: entrer, retourner, la rentrée. The nuances between rentrer and similar verbs (entrer, retourner) hinge on whether the emphasis is on entering anew, returning to a place, or bringing something back to a location.