returns 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of return
1
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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2
as in yields
to produce as revenue this technology stock is expected to return a healthy profit

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3
4
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

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
Their model is Stassi from House of Stassi, then Chloe (who returns as a model after she’s been eliminated). Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 July 2026 Lollapalooza returns for its 2026 edition today (July 30) at Chicago’s Grant Park. Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 30 July 2026 Larry Lamb returns for the second season as Ron Palmer, Mick’s art-forging father who is now serving time. Tanya Fedak, Variety, 29 July 2026 Following an eventful Redemption pay-per-view, AEW Dynamite returns Wednesday, July 29, from the Masonic Temple Theatre in Detroit, Michigan, as the road to All In continues. Rob Wolkenbrod, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 Once a voter returns an absentee ballot to the clerk, the voter cannot decide to change his or her vote. Scott Bauer, Twin Cities, 29 July 2026 But if Aaron Donald returns — still an if, but a real one — Young could force opponents to plan for a third pass rusher. Nate Atkins, New York Times, 28 July 2026 Italian filmmaker Alina Marazzi will debut her first feature in a decade, La Ragazza Con La Leica, while Georgian filmmaker Levan Koguashvili returns with Guria, a black-and-white feature set in western Georgia. Zac Ntim, Deadline, 23 July 2026 But then Sabrina returns from a stint in Paris all grown up and womanly, and David is suddenly struck by her beauty. Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 23 July 2026
Noun
When South Korea’s stock market plummeted last month by more than 40% from its June high, Yun said data suggested that many traders who were using leverage to try and multiply returns were wiped out. Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026 Rodriguez returns after a 15-month layoff and hand surgery, aiming to re-enter the title picture against Silva, who seeks a second win this year to secure a title shot. Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026 The studios’ annual 8×10 sale returns for its 10th year on Saturday, giving visitors the chance to acquire art at a fraction of the usual price by bidding in $25 increments starting at $100. Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2026 That promise to convert its large investments into outsized returns has left investors mostly optimistic about the company’s future prospects, despite a few uncertainties, according to Bank of America. Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026 This annual concert returns with opening act Cody Matlock and headliner the Calling. Mary Caldwell, AJC.com, 4 Aug. 2026 In The Housemaid’s Secret, Millie Calloway (Sweeney) returns, taking a job keeping house for a woman she’s never allowed to see, only to discover the truth behind the locked door that threatens to expose secrets far darker than her own. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 4 Aug. 2026 Investors had been looking for evidence that Azure and Copilot, Microsoft's flagship AI assistant, could eventually produce returns as concerns about high AI spending had steadily grown across the industry. ABC News, 29 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for returns
Verb
  • The one legal exception to this permanent rollback is if the governor personally restores an individual’s right to vote.
    Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 31 July 2026
  • Symbolically, the death of Husayn represents the shattering of the world, and Arbaeen restores it.
    Iqbal Akhtar, The Conversation, 31 July 2026
Verb
  • Achieving this requires robust data integration and convincing guests that sharing preferences yields significant value.
    Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
  • But the mystery purchase yields a different kind of opportunity.
    Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 23 July 2026
Verb
  • Others have a much harder time transitioning, which is why Amin encourages parents to pay attention to how their own child responds rather than focusing on someone else’s recommendations.
    Tara Duncan, AJC.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • If the organization responds by filling every newly available minute with another task, employees quickly learn that there is no benefit to becoming more efficient.
    Nirit Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The school is owned by the city of Pembroke Pines, and a lease says the property reverts back to the city in 2037.
    Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 26 July 2026
  • As light can selectively target the fluid, scientists were able to print microscopic conductive patterns that completely vanish once exposed to open air, which reverts the gel back into non-conductive liquid clusters.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 12 June 2026
Noun
  • This predominantly includes deceptive measures and signal disruptions as responses to intrusive drones.
    Zita Ballinger Fletcher, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
  • In emailed responses to ProPublica’s questions, Microsoft stood by its approach, saying its triaging decisions are based on a number of factors, including exploitability and the impact on customers.
    Renee Dudley, ProPublica, 29 July 2026
Noun
  • There isn’t much wiggle room to miss on home run props without drying up the season’s profits.
    Josh Shepardson, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The decline in spending has coincided with an increase in profits and streaming revenues, according to an earlier WGA report.
    Gene Maddaus, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • For now, the aftermarket pays nominal registry fees to officially access the manufacturers’ secure gateways.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Streamex also pays yield on tokenized gold, and its chief executive Henry McPhie has spelled out where his comes from.
    Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Thomas comments with three lovestruck emojis, and Kerstin replies with two.
    William Finnegan, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
  • If the interviewer replies that no urgent issues ever come up - take that with a grain of salt.
    Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Returns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/returns. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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