returning

Definition of returningnext
present participle of return
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

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2
as in yielding
to produce as revenue this technology stock is expected to return a healthy profit

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3
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

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of returning The Ducks won two nights after returning from the break to beat Edmonton at home for coach Joel Quenneville’s 1,000th NHL victory. Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2026 Shesterkin made his second straight start since returning for Thursday's 3-2 home overtime loss to Philadelphia. CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026 Tristen Newton, Kemba Walker and Shabazz Napier were also considered active players but were not inducted until returning from their respective national championship victories. Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2026 Santos said the Warriors are well aware of the playoff ramifications and that winning Saturday night would be significant with Curry potentially returning in the near future. Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2026 Shesterkin made his second straight start since returning for Thursday’s 3-2 home overtime loss to Philadelphia. ABC News, 28 Feb. 2026 An Afghan official also said that civilians were wounded in Pakistani attacks on Thursday when a mortar shell hit a camp near the Torkham border crossing which housed people returning from Pakistan, according to AFP. Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 27 Feb. 2026 Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid sounded optimistic about tight end Travis Kelce potentially returning for a 14th NFL season. Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 21 Feb. 2026 Brooks himself had been the final player cut from that 1960 team, but he would not be dissuaded returning 20 years later to put together the unlikeliest of underdog teams that would go on to shock the world. Patrick Snell, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for returning
Verb
  • But even temporarily restoring blood flow after death has raised ethical questions.
    ABC News, ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026
  • Smith’s bill would bar trade secret designations for any financial information used in the calculation or justification of insurance rates, restoring the previously public nature of the rate-setting process.
    Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • He got clobbered in his first start of the season, yielding eight runs in 2 2/3 innings.
    Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Instead of yielding a sink full of dishes, our one-pot version requires only your trusty Dutch oven.
    Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • State police fire investigators and the state fire marshal's office were responding to support Taunton fire authorities to determine the origin and cause of the explosion, Wark said.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Feb. 2026
  • After responding to a cruiser crash involving State Police Sgt.
    Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The stadium also has a different name, reverting back to Sporting Park after its 10-year agreement with Children’s Mercy expired.
    Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026
  • That’s been standard ever since, but for Season 50, the series is reverting back to the live finale, which is why the sweepstakes might be uniquely appealing for fans.
    Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • But determining how to structure reimbursements would be tricky, as the costs of the tariffs flowed through the economy in the form of customers paying the taxes directly as well as importers either passing along the cost indirectly or absorbing them.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Kyiv is paying the price of the upheaval with constant churn and relentless loss, Ukrainians told me.
    Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Top Tyler leaders haven’t been thrilled with Pappas either, replying to her letters by defending their work and characterizing her correspondence as counterproductive and at times, misleading or hyperbolic.
    A.D. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2026
  • Two years ago, Duplicki, an avid runner from the Philadelphia suburb of Lansdale, became Dobbs’ guide after replying to a message on a local Facebook runners’ group.
    Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 17 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Occupational giving statistics more or less tracked with the postelection analysis of pundits.
    Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 27 Feb. 2026
  • Islamabad blames Pakistani Taliban militants for much of that violence – and accuses Kabul of giving them shelter on its territory.
    Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • During his testimony, Bill Clinton denied any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes, and he was described as being largely relaxed while answering questions.
    Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 28 Feb. 2026
  • Then a second panel will have Abel answering questions with BNSF CEO Katie Farmer and NetJets CEO Adam Johnson, who now helps oversee all of Berkshire’s consumer, service and retail businesses.
    Dallas Morning News, Dallas Morning News, 28 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Returning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/returning. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.

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