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
Season 42 continues on Wednesday with Richard Nguyen returning as champion to face two new challengers.
—
Usa Today Staff,
USA Today,
1 July 2026
Anderson had arrived safely and was staying overnight in the La Guaira hotel before returning home, Salcedo said in an interview with Reuters news agency.
—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
30 June 2026
The fashion house is returning as a lead sponsor for the sixth annual BAAND Together Dance Festival, which brings five leading New York dance companies back to Lincoln Center for the summer season.
—
Kristen Tauer,
Footwear News,
30 June 2026
Instead, defenders increasingly restart play before returning the ball to their goalkeeper, who then acts as an additional outfield player to build attacks and bypass the opposition’s first line of pressure.
—
Clemente Lisi,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
On March 17th, the Negra Francisca Duarte II, returning from waters west of the Galápagos, was attacked by drones inside Ecuador’s exclusive economic zone, its crew said.
—
Will Freeman,
New Yorker,
30 June 2026
The Mets’ shortstop, playing in only his third game back since returning from a calf strain, hit a game-tying, two-run triple off Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Alan Rangel in the sixth inning, breathing new life into the beleaguered team.
—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
28 June 2026
The Trailblazers are already armed with the best two returning players from Orange County transferring to the school.
—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
28 June 2026
After an opening draw against Morocco, Brazil won its next two by 3-0 scores, with Vinícius Júnior scoring to silence critics and Neymar returning from injury.
—
ABC News,
27 June 2026
Usa Today Staff,
USA Today,
1 July 2026
Anderson had arrived safely and was staying overnight in the La Guaira hotel before returning home, Salcedo said in an interview with Reuters news agency.
—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
30 June 2026
The fashion house is returning as a lead sponsor for the sixth annual BAAND Together Dance Festival, which brings five leading New York dance companies back to Lincoln Center for the summer season.
—
Kristen Tauer,
Footwear News,
30 June 2026
Instead, defenders increasingly restart play before returning the ball to their goalkeeper, who then acts as an additional outfield player to build attacks and bypass the opposition’s first line of pressure.
—
Clemente Lisi,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
On March 17th, the Negra Francisca Duarte II, returning from waters west of the Galápagos, was attacked by drones inside Ecuador’s exclusive economic zone, its crew said.
—
Will Freeman,
New Yorker,
30 June 2026
The Mets’ shortstop, playing in only his third game back since returning from a calf strain, hit a game-tying, two-run triple off Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Alan Rangel in the sixth inning, breathing new life into the beleaguered team.
—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
28 June 2026
The Trailblazers are already armed with the best two returning players from Orange County transferring to the school.
—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
28 June 2026
After an opening draw against Morocco, Brazil won its next two by 3-0 scores, with Vinícius Júnior scoring to silence critics and Neymar returning from injury.
—
ABC News,
27 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for returning
Verb
-
The founder of the family safety app Life360 has spent millions buying and restoring historic properties in the town through a nonprofit called the Good Luck Fund.
-
His mother began paying taxes in 1993 after public outrage at the cost of restoring Windsor Castle following a devastating fire the previous year.
Verb
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Phillips retired 18 out of his last 19 batters faced before yielding back-to-back singles with one out in the eighth.
-
For Southern gardens, plant in early spring or late summer, with fall often yielding sweeter carrots due to cooler growth conditions.
Verb
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Police officers responding to Leslie Martin’s call and separate reports of a break-in found Doug Martin hiding in a neighbor’s home.
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The trail that led to the record haul began in the state of Queensland, when local police officers responding to reports of a truck fire found 40 kilograms of cocaine floating in the sea near a boat ramp.
Verb
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At least Mercedes is reverting back to screwing things together rather than gluing things in a back-to-basics manufacturing push.
-
The state is reverting some districts to older lines that are more favorable to Republicans.
Verb
-
Not trade unions, which ought to realize licensure reform will ultimately lead to more dues-paying members.
-
No other white author of the late 19th century engaged so fully with the Black community, whether in promoting the Fisk Jubilee Singers or paying expenses for a Black student at Yale Law School.
Verb
-
When in doubt, contact the Settlement Administrator through the official settlement website rather than replying to an email that showed up in your inbox.
-
Like, no other CEOs are just posting at anon accounts and, like, retweeting them and replying to them and posting just a wide array of things.
Verb
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The Athletics beat the Dodgers 7-1 on Wednesday night, giving the West Sacramento team its only win of the series with the Dodgers, winners of the past two World Series, failing to secure a three-game sweep.
-
Another prohibits giving lectures in public parks without city permission.
Verb
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In my view, an especially helpful approach to answering such questions is to revisit the towering but neglected influence of the French philosopher Montesquieu on the founding of this country.
-
In practice, this means deliberately re-engaging in small, concrete activities, such as a short walk, a shower or answering one message, specifically because those actions are small enough to complete even at low motivation.
Cite this Entry
“Returning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/returning. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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