1.
giving back; returning; forfeiting
Returning something that was given or granted, such as a title, privilege, or reputation. Often used figuratively to mean overcoming a negative label or proving something wrong.
汚名を返上する。
To clear one's name.
休日返上で仕事に取り組んだ。
I worked on it, giving up my days off.
弱小チームという評判を返上し、見事優勝を果たした。
They shed their reputation as a weak team and brilliantly won the championship.
返上 is a noun that can function as a suru verb (返上する). It literally means returning something upward (to a superior), but is most commonly used figuratively.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 汚名返上 (clearing a bad reputation)
- 休日返上 (giving up holidays/days off)
- 名誉返上 (forfeiting an honor)
- タイトルを返上する (relinquish a title)
The expression 汚名返上 (clearing one's name) is extremely common and is often the first context in which learners encounter this word. 休日返上 (working through holidays) appears frequently in work-related discussions.