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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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

As Holmes serves time in federal prison, the actress returns as her literal double in reenactments and conversations, first haunting the San Diego beach house, then Evans’ new residence in Texas — even interacting with the couple’s kids. — Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 19 Oct. 2026 The Home button returns you to the home screen, and the Location button opens a screen that displays your service address (home) and your current location. — John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 19 Oct. 2026 As darkness returns in late August and September, the northern lights become visible again. — Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2026 That is design work, and doing it returns time to the person whose judgment the company needs most. — Dr. Nore Salman, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026 When the chorus returns later, the same familiar vocal framework is placed within a fuller, denser groove, giving it even greater impact and momentum. — David Penn, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2026 The Senegal international wins his individual tussle with the defender, laying the ball off for Johan Manzambi, who quickly returns it to Jackson to score. — Thom Harris, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2026 Baur says once the palms are gone, the native forest returns rapidly. — Lauren Sommer, NPR, 13 Oct. 2026 Perspective returns through movement, humor, curiosity, or a change of scene. — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 13 Oct. 2026

Noun

The holiday-season favorite returns with its elaborate combination of rock music, theatrical storytelling and stage effects. — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 26 Oct. 2026 Like other tech giants, Microsoft is spending hundreds of billions of dollars on AI data centers and chips, drawing scrutiny from investors over whether the returns will justify the staggering cost. — Reuters, NBC news, 26 Oct. 2026 Apple has returned 111% to shareholders, while Meta and Alphabet have seen returns of 125% and 164%, respectively. — Fred Imbert, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026 In stable conditions, those decisions can improve margins and generate better returns. — Erik Clarke, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026 To keep returns low, Daunt shops often placed tiny initial orders, a wan show of confidence that risked seeping down to the fragile economy of the writing life. — Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026 This contributes to imperfect fits, product returns, and lower customer satisfaction. — Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026 For Athina Kanioura, global chief strategy and transformation officer and CEO of PepsiCo Latin America, rethinking AI’s value means challenging the pressure to prove immediate financial returns. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026 But what will then happen is that the users of AI will start demanding returns. — Shelly Banjo, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for returns

Verb

The quicker Wendy's rids itself of the meth addicts and prison-release system workers, the sooner this brand restores order.

— Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Starz and Verizon have inked a deal that restores all Starz channels, Starz On Demand and the Starz app to Verizon Fios.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of restores

Verb

An increase to the benchmark interest rate aims to slash inflation by slowing the economy and eating away at demand, though the policy typically yields results after a lag time lasting several months.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026
Natural cosmic ray muography yields only about 1 muon per square centimeter per second.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of yields

Verb

Slowing light strengthens its interaction with a device, improving efficiency, but electrical resistance can limit how quickly the modulator responds.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
Trump’s presidency seems rooted in a policy du jour mindset which responds first and foremost to pleasuring his insatiable ego.

— Kevin Igoe, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of responds

Verb

The decision reverts Missouri’s congressional map to what was used in 2022 and 2024 until voters approve or reject the new map in November.

— Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026
The lease limits what can be built on the site and once the agreement is complete, ownership reverts back to the Spanglers.

— Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of reverts

Noun

PwC’s 2026 Global CEO Survey, based on responses from 4,454 CEOs across 95 countries and territories, found that 56% had realized neither revenue nor cost benefits from AI.

— Kelvin Cheema, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
The goal of the center, a senior official told Chelsea, is to get to the bottom of why some people’s immune systems have more robust responses than others, and to learn more about diseases, as well as ways to make vaccines more safe and effective.

— Amanda Erickson, STAT, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of responses

Noun

The impact of higher fuel costs on demand and profits is also critical, as is the competitive landscape relative to UPS this holiday season.

— Kevin Stankiewicz,Zev Fima, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2026
Though the company is still throwing off bundles of cash, the profits aren’t good enough for a ravenous Wall Street, and the blood of 1,000 staff has been let as Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters attempt to change the record.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of profits

Verb

And the city is backing a ballot initiative of its own, Measure AT, which would eliminate a $15-million cap on the 10% admission tax on ticket sales the stadium pays.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
That’s, like, half of what Heather pays for house slippers — that is a single designer slipper.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of pays

Verb

The automation should end when the customer replies, books, declines, becomes unqualified or needs a decision from a person.

— Michael Fox, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
The video then shows Duff taking off her earpiece and saying something to her bandmate, who replies with an unsure gesture.

— Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026