Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2021	May 31, 2020	May 31, 2019
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 1,110,968	$ 876,037	$ 884,981
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	243,836	235,905	223,631
Amortization of intangible assets and capitalized contract costs	144,115	143,148	136,462
Stock-based compensation	112,035	115,435	139,210
Net gain on sale of operating assets	(22,030)	0	(3,200)
Long-lived asset impairment	5,114	9,220	0
Gain on sale of a cost method investment	0	0	(69,373)
Deferred income taxes	(42,242)	(16,252)	31,708
Change in current assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions of businesses:
Accounts receivable, net	(32,576)	39,681	(94,918)
Inventories, net	(75,501)	(74,773)	(60,039)
Uniforms and other rental items in service	(35,659)	12,773	(90,228)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets and capitalized contract costs	(102,600)	(110,248)	(100,765)
Accounts payable	(2,604)	2,629	12,276
Accrued compensation and related liabilities	113,769	(26,476)	15,321
Accrued liabilities and other	(6,735)	49,906	30,910
Income taxes, current	(49,150)	34,498	11,886
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,360,740	1,291,483	1,067,862
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(143,470)	(230,289)	(276,719)
Purchase of marketable securities and investments	(4,299)	(10,031)	(17,841)
Proceeds from sale of operating assets, net of cash disposed	31,705	13,300	3,200
Proceeds from sale of a cost method investment	0	0	73,342
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	(10,038)	(53,720)	(9,813)
Other, net	(11,113)	(4,658)	(7,807)
Net cash used in investing activities	(137,215)	(285,398)	(235,638)
Cash flows from financing activities:
(Payments) issuance of commercial paper, net	0	(112,500)	112,500
Proceeds from issuance of debt	0	0	200,000
Repayment of debt	0	(200,000)	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock-based compensation awards	129,957	90,519	65,371
Dividends paid	(451,327)	(267,956)	(220,764)
Repurchase of common stock	(554,121)	(464,518)	(1,016,300)
Other, net	(4,377)	(752)	(14,112)
Net cash used in financing activities	(879,868)	(955,207)	(873,305)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	4,581	(2,121)	(998)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	348,238	48,757	(42,079)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	145,402	96,645	138,724
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 493,640	$ 145,402	$ 96,645