returning

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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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
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Leading up to the Texas game, the former Orlando Jones standout appeared close to returning, but still seemed off to Sumrall during pre-game warm-ups. — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2026 Often this involves methods of returning their elements to the earth, such as ritual burning, burial or pouring liquids like holy water into the soil. — Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026 Williams believes the technology can help prolong his career, particularly after recently returning from a hamstring injury. — Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026 While its core exhibits are permanent, the museum periodically expands its collection, giving returning visitors something new to discover. — Jill Robbins, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2026 For Ashlee, returning home would mean leaving her son behind in Germany. — Brianna Keilar, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026 The passengers were reportedly returning from a funeral when the accident occurred. — ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026 Mayfield was returning from an injury after missing three games. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026 Defender Emily Menges made her first appearance since returning from maternity leave. — Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for returning
Verb
  • Successful recovery means reversing specific actions or restoring specific datasets while allowing everything else to continue operating normally.
    — Rick Vanover, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The nonprofit is affiliated with developer Shawn Kennedy with Kennedy Properties and Development, who is leading a redevelopment of the club with the goal of restoring it as a social and cultural hub for Black residents.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • With the recent proliferation of agents and their ability to comparison shop for higher-yielding investments (just like buying a sweater), financial stocks have taken a hit.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Its materials describe every decision as traceable and explainable, with the same file yielding the same answer.
    — Ethan Stone, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The house’s move into ready-to-wear in 1966 was another example of Saint Laurent responding to his time.
    — Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2026
  • That includes training managers to listen before responding; encouraging employees to share ideas, concerns and mistakes; and making respectful disagreement acceptable.
    — Dr. Manish Pratap Singh Chandel, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Rollback plans should account for data changes and financial transactions; reverting application code alone may not reverse a financial consequence.
    — Manny Khan, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The notorious property has since undergone a name change, reverting back to its original moniker of Sycamore Valley Ranch.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 24 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Historically, Miami-Dade voters haven’t been willing to endorse paying commissioners more.
    — Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Ross said many graduates also face the cost of paying for their degrees on top of their housing costs, which add up over time.
    — Roger Simmons, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Musk was replying to a post on X by Chamath Palihapitiya, the founder of Social Capital, who laid out his views on the state of the data center buildout.
    — Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
  • As supporters and detractors debated, Hall’s partner began replying to online comments.
    — Jack Denton, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The design has also been selected for export programmes in Poland and Indonesia, giving it a growing international footprint.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Something could come together quietly through a helpful conversation, a small favor, or someone giving you useful information without much fanfare.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Organizers arranged flights and hotels along the way and provided instructions on answering immigration officers’ questions.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Their flexibility is useful when writing, summarizing, brainstorming, or answering broad questions.
    — Ethan Stone, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Returning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/returning. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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