RETURNS Synonyms: 127 Similar and Opposite Words

returns 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of return

as in restores

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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Relevance

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as in yields

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

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as in responds

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

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as in reverts

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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returns

2 of 2

noun

plural of return

as in responses

something spoken or written in reaction especially to a question I was moved by my grandfather's lengthy return to my casual question about his experiences in the Vietnam War

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as in proceeds

the amount of money left when expenses are subtracted from the total amount received the return on each unit sold has increased since we streamlined the production process

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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 returns

Verb

Time Lord returns Holiday wasn’t the only ex-Celtic facing his former team for the first time Monday night. —

Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026 Sumrall returns 39 scholarship players, added more than two dozen transfers and welcomed 17 early enrollees from the 20-player 2026 signing class. —

Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026 The Heat now returns home for a matchup against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday at Kaseya Center. —

Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2026 The series returns The Handmaid’s Tale star Ann Dowd to the role of Aunt Lydia and introduces new characters led by Chase Infiniti, who steps into the role of Agnes/Hannah — the daughter to June Osborne, who was played by Elisabeth Moss in The Handmaid’s Tale. —

Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 26 Jan. 2026 That combination suggests that the FOMC may avoid abrupt policy shifts for now, unless either the job market shows clear weakness or inflation returns more comfortably to the Fed’s 2% annual target. —

Simon Moore, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026 The gunman then disappears again and returns with a woman. —

Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 8 Jan. 2026 Undertone stars Nina Kiri as Evy, a paranormal podcast host who returns home to care for her dying mother. —

Matt Grobar, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026 Fan-favorite referee Dan Schachner returns for his 15th year to oversee the action, which also includes new and returning segments, as well as celebrity cameos from the Buffalo Bills’ Khalil Shakir, and more. —

Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Jan. 2026

Noun

But when a man from Anne’s past returns from war, a curse begins to take shape through a mysterious knight and threatens to destroy them all. —

Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Feb. 2026 And Malone, who for long stretches outperformed even Warren Buffett in generating returns for his investors, poured much of his family’s net worth into buying more land. —

Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 1 Feb. 2026 On top of all that, Brady was a dangerous threat on special teams as well (seven punt returns for 433 yards and five touchdowns). —

Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2026 These include extremely detailed rules that could trip up taxpayers when filing 2025 federal income tax returns. —

Leah Olajide, Freep.com, 1 Feb. 2026 Tax-Aide is designed to benefit low-to-moderate income people, particularly those 50 and older, but anyone can use its service unless their returns are particularly complex. —

Liz Weston, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026 The journey of investment into self gives greater returns than any other. —

Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 31 Jan. 2026 Slowing down, grounding yourself and spending time in nature will help restore balance before harmony returns in the Year of the Horse. —

Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026 The parade route begins at the Tarrant County Courthouse on North Main Street, follows the street south to the Convention Center, and returns north up Houston Street to Weatherford Street. —

Brayden Garcia january 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for returns

Verb

Crow also celebrated the ruling, which temporarily restores members of Congress's right to visit federal detention facilities unannounced.

— Austen Erblat, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
February 19 – March 20 When pressures pull inward, compassion restores balance.

— Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2026