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
For the live finale on September 25, Kim Jae Joong returns as Planet Master after previously mentoring the participants during the show’s early episodes. Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025 Cynthia Erivo returns as Elphaba with the kind of voice that fills a room and a presence that anchors a world. Okla Jones, Essence, 10 Sep. 2025 Maybe Adam returns early next season. Dennis Lin, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025 Off the Internet The 19th edition of IDFA’s new media program, IDFA DocLab, returns with an immersive and interactive documentary program presented at de Brakke Grond, ARTIS- Planetarium, and @droog. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 9 Sep. 2025 In the meantime, Oliver returns the ledger to Randall, who seems particularly overwhelmed by his newfound responsibilities. Tom Smyth, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2025 The sooner Gonzalez returns, the sooner the Patriots can test their potential as a top-10 defense. Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 9 Sep. 2025 Iain Stirling also returns as the show’s narrator and Maura Higgins will host the weekly recap show, Love Island Aftersun. Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025 But the show — popular with younger adults back when Fred, Fogarty and Anderson belonged to that demographic themselves — returns from the shelf it’s been on since 2023 with fresh challen — oh, wait. Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
Rather, the goal is to maximise investment returns – Mounsey-Heysham and his co-founders just happen to believe the best way to do that is to identify companies with convincing answers to large and seemingly intractable societal problems. David Prosser, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025 Baidu, whose Hong Kong shares have gained nearly 59% this year, reported a drop in second-quarter revenue last month as its core advertising business struggled and returns from AI investments remained limited. Dylan Butts, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025 Johansson returns as the face of the Galleria bag for the third time, after previous installments of the campaign in 2024 and 2023, directed by British screenwriter and director Jonathan Glazer and Venezuelan-American artist Alex Da Corte, respectively. Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for returns
Verb
  • The agreement, set for five years, includes better wages and restores a signing bonus, according to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Union.
    Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The mayor’s revised budget partially restores funding for some programs but still faces criticism for not fully addressing community needs.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Simple arithmetic such as 355/113 could be calculated in place by selecting the text and pressing USE FRONT-CALC (Control-G), which yields the answer with a dotted underline to indicate the result of a computation.
    Cameron Kaiser, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Within seconds, ChatGPT yields a list of essay ideas, plus examples and quotes to back them up.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Smartphones and instant uploads mean graphic events can spread before any newsroom responds.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • The crowd responds by trying to throw him off a cliff.
    John Fugelsang September 12, Literary Hub, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The deduction and the phase-out levels will increase by 1% a year until 2029, when the cap reverts back to the original $10,000.
    Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Jeff is the author of Appalachian Fall (Simon & Schuster, 2020), which explored the decline of the coal industry and community-level responses to the energy transition.
    Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
  • That genetic material contains an enormous amount of information within it, telling your body what proteins and enzymes to produce, how to configure them together, and where and when to activate a variety of responses.
    Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Whelan said that a costuming Easter egg in the play pays tribute to original Love Boat captain Gavin MacLeod.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Sep. 2025
  • For professionals seeking meaningful work that pays well and makes a difference, the opportunities in 2025 are both diverse and enduring.
    Monica Sanders, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The man replies with further context about her circumstances.
    Ashley Vega, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The third walk-off loss in seven days resulted in a similar scene, with Scott buried in his locker and still searching for answers.
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
  • That’s all there is to it for today’s Quordle clues and answers.
    Kris Holt, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Returns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/returns. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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