1
as in restoring
to bring, send, or put back to a former or proper place
when I'm done reading a book, I always return it to the very shelf I got it from
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in yielding
to produce as revenue
this technology stock is expected to return a healthy profit
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in responding
to speak or write in reaction to a question or to another reaction
when I asked him to sit down to dinner, he returned that he would come when he was good and ready
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in reverting
to go back to a previous and usually lower state or level
vowed to do anything to keep the recovering alcoholic from returning to his dissolute ways
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of returning
Picard and millions of other returning veterans were keen to put the war behind them.
—
Kevin Maurer, The Atlantic, 6 June 2026
Hosted by returning IndieWire favorite Dewayne Perkins on June 4 in Los Angeles, the TV edition of our biannual awards ceremony honored some of the most innovative creators and performers working on series today.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 June 2026
Perennial flowers are the gift that keeps on giving for your garden, returning year after year and putting on a beautiful show in the warmer months.
—Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 6 June 2026
What would be less likely is Tyler and Norman both returning.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 6 June 2026
The Colts will be returning with a rehabbing quarterback and without wide receiver Michael Pittman, edge Kwity Paye and linebacker Zaire Franklin.
—Gladys Louise Tyler, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Season 42 continues on Friday with Peter Mcferrin returning as champion to face two new challengers.
—Usa Today Staff, USA Today, 5 June 2026
Gray, who struggled in the Bronx in 2017 and 2018, earned his fifth straight win since returning from a hamstring injury.
—CBS News, 5 June 2026
The test analyzes the activity of 50 genes in a tumor sample and generates a score that estimates the risk of the cancer returning.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 30 May 2026
Kevin Maurer, The Atlantic, 6 June 2026
Hosted by returning IndieWire favorite Dewayne Perkins on June 4 in Los Angeles, the TV edition of our biannual awards ceremony honored some of the most innovative creators and performers working on series today.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 June 2026
Perennial flowers are the gift that keeps on giving for your garden, returning year after year and putting on a beautiful show in the warmer months.
—Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 6 June 2026
What would be less likely is Tyler and Norman both returning.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 6 June 2026
The Colts will be returning with a rehabbing quarterback and without wide receiver Michael Pittman, edge Kwity Paye and linebacker Zaire Franklin.
—Gladys Louise Tyler, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Season 42 continues on Friday with Peter Mcferrin returning as champion to face two new challengers.
—Usa Today Staff, USA Today, 5 June 2026
Gray, who struggled in the Bronx in 2017 and 2018, earned his fifth straight win since returning from a hamstring injury.
—CBS News, 5 June 2026
The test analyzes the activity of 50 genes in a tumor sample and generates a score that estimates the risk of the cancer returning.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 30 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for returning
Verb
-
The Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria has reclaimed 450 acres of ancestral land in Butte County, marking one of the tribe’s largest land returns and a major step in restoring its historic land base.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
11 June 2026
-
HexemBio is focused on restoring the regenerative capacity of blood stem cells.—
Dasha Shunina,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Seattle wasted a strong start from Luis Castillo, who left with a 3-1 lead after yielding three hits in 5 2/3 innings.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 June 2026
-
David Fried, owner of Elmore Roots Fruit Tree Nursery, highlights pears as a prolific producer, often yielding 200 pounds of fruit per tree each year.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Former Senate and House Democratic Leader Chris Smith said the party had been navigating a complicated landscape in responding to Wasserman Schultz’s actions.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
-
There are 75 personnel actively responding on the ground to the Texas screwworm outbreak, with hundreds more providing laboratory, logistics and air operations support nationwide, according to the USDA.—
Mary Whitfill Roeloffs,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
The state is reverting some districts to older lines that are more favorable to Republicans.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
20 May 2026
-
The ruling effectively overturned the city’s ordinance, reverting the election to November 2025.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
After signing a waiver, strapping on a helmet and paying a $30 fee, audience members can ride along in the passenger seat of a professional driver’s drift car.—
Christopher Buchanan,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
-
Gas taxes ultimately make up just a small portion of the amount consumers are paying at the pump.—
Becca Stanek,
TheWeek,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Both ministers were replying after anonymous sources cited Tuesday by the Financial Times said the United States had signaled openness to deploying elements of its nuclear arsenal in new European countries, in addition to the six currently thought to host nuclear weapons.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 June 2026
-
That doesn’t just mean being available for strategy phone calls or instantly replying on email.—
Rashi Shrivastava,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Local groups Sin Tope and Making Movies performed on the festival’s main stage, giving fans a chance to decompress and have some fun, rather than stressing about their favorite team.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
12 June 2026
-
Hunter Biden has reemerged in recent weeks online, posting on X and giving interviews about his life in recovery for his substance use disorder and ensuing legal troubles created political headaches for his father.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Given the breakout to new highs, the market appears to be answering yes.—
,
CNBC,
3 June 2026
-
Instead of answering, Brunson asked a question himself.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Returning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/returning. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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