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
Senior 6-9 forward Malik Dia, who scored 19 points with eight rebounds that day against the Razorbacks, is the team's sole returning starter.
—
Arkansas Online, 7 Jan. 2026
The suspects appeared to grab entire racks of puffer jackets and sweatshirts before returning outside.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026
He was treated for pneumonia for two weeks last month before returning home on Christmas Eve.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2026
Therefore, one of the Mustangs’ top priorities should be bringing in some extra support for its returning defensive backs.
—Lia Assimakopoulos
dallas Stars, Dallas Morning News, 6 Jan. 2026
The project, based on the second novel in Freida McFadden’s best-selling trilogy, has been in development for the past few months, and Lionsgate is planning a production start for later this year with Feig and stars Sweeney and Michele Morrone returning.
—Marc Malkin, Variety, 6 Jan. 2026
The returning Doomsday cast also includes Mackie, Danny Ramirez, Paul Rudd, Tom Hiddleston, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke and Simu Liu, as well as Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn and Kelsey Grammer, who costarred with Stewart, McKellen and Marsden in the X-Men movies throughout the 2000s and 2010s.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
The Heat actually does it again in the coming days, taking on the Knicks in New York on Friday before returning home to host the Knicks on Monday.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 11 Nov. 2025
While returning, naval ships conducted rapid ammunition replenishment and refueling at the base, while maintenance teams boarded the vessels to repair damaged equipment.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Arkansas Online, 7 Jan. 2026
The suspects appeared to grab entire racks of puffer jackets and sweatshirts before returning outside.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026
He was treated for pneumonia for two weeks last month before returning home on Christmas Eve.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2026
Therefore, one of the Mustangs’ top priorities should be bringing in some extra support for its returning defensive backs.
—Lia Assimakopoulos
dallas Stars, Dallas Morning News, 6 Jan. 2026
The project, based on the second novel in Freida McFadden’s best-selling trilogy, has been in development for the past few months, and Lionsgate is planning a production start for later this year with Feig and stars Sweeney and Michele Morrone returning.
—Marc Malkin, Variety, 6 Jan. 2026
The returning Doomsday cast also includes Mackie, Danny Ramirez, Paul Rudd, Tom Hiddleston, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke and Simu Liu, as well as Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn and Kelsey Grammer, who costarred with Stewart, McKellen and Marsden in the X-Men movies throughout the 2000s and 2010s.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
The Heat actually does it again in the coming days, taking on the Knicks in New York on Friday before returning home to host the Knicks on Monday.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 11 Nov. 2025
While returning, naval ships conducted rapid ammunition replenishment and refueling at the base, while maintenance teams boarded the vessels to repair damaged equipment.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for returning
Verb
-
Binder said restoring trust and stability would be his top priority in San Mateo County.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
-
And so, with Carol intent on restoring what once was, the fate of mankind rests in the hands of someone who doesn’t seem to like people all that much.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Commercial Sb₂O₃ and Nb₂O₅ were reacted at high temperature in ambient air, yielding uniform rod-like TNO crystals ranging from 500 nm to 2 µm without detectable secondary phases.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Multiple wells, corresponding to different collection locations or different concentrations, are examined at the same time, quickly yielding an electronic scatter plot that estimates how much of each virus is present in the wastewater under examination.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Panelists joined Washington Week With The Atlantic to discuss how voters and lawmakers are responding, and more.—
The Editors,
The Atlantic,
8 Nov. 2025
-
But that was until Thursday night, when coach Todd Golden gave him a brief nod with two minutes remaining, as if responding to the requests from above.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Indevin and Vinarchy will use synthetic pesticides and fertilizers in their vineyards, with the former rolling back organic practices at about 250 of its 320 acres, while the latter is reverting 200 of its 370 acres to conventional farming practices.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
10 Dec. 2025
-
Could the Republican Party be reverting back to its old ways?—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
8 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
In doing so, drivers can ensure their insurer has accurate information, thereby keeping them protected without paying more than necessary.—
Ethan M. Stone,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
-
No one likes paying for insurance — and mounting premiums in 2025 didn't help matters.—
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The biggest update is to how Gemini will assist users with writing and replying to messages.—
Jacqueline Munis,
Fortune,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Feedback is welcome and can be provided by simply replying to the daily email itself.—
Joel Feder,
The Drive,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
If Carolina is thinking about the big picture, giving Coker the extra year, perhaps valued as a first- or second-round tender, is just getting ahead of a formality.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Luckily, Madewell is giving us something to celebrate this season with a surprise sale on cold-weather clothing essentials with prices starting as low as $20.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Officers responded to the couple’s home after several concerned friends and co-workers called police to report that Spencer Tepe, a local dentist, had not shown up for work and Monique Tepe was not answering the phone.—
Mirna Alsharif,
NBC news,
10 Jan. 2026
-
There were Miami heroics of receiver Malachi Toney turning a short pass into a 36-yard touchdown for the lead, and Mississippi’s answering heroics of quarterback Trinidad Chambliss throwing a 24-yard touchdown to retake the lead.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Returning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/returning. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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