Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022	May 31, 2021
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 1,348,010	$ 1,235,757	$ 1,110,968
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	257,041	249,376	243,836
Amortization of intangible assets and capitalized contract costs	152,121	150,325	144,115
Stock-based compensation	103,621	109,308	112,035
Gain on equity method investment transaction	0	(30,151)	0
Net gain on sale of operating assets	0	(12,129)	(22,030)
Long-lived asset impairment	0	0	5,114
Deferred income taxes	23,233	52,110	(42,242)
Change in current assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions of businesses:
Accounts receivable, net	(151,771)	(100,392)	(32,576)
Inventories, net	(35,658)	16,194	(75,501)
Uniforms and other rental items in service	(98,252)	(111,332)	(35,659)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets and capitalized contract costs	(132,173)	(28,581)	(102,600)
Accounts payable	53,369	22,697	(2,604)
Accrued compensation and related liabilities	2,711	(3,625)	113,769
Accrued liabilities and other	41,314	(9,241)	(6,735)
Income taxes, current	34,248	(2,691)	(49,150)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,597,814	1,537,625	1,360,740
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(331,109)	(240,672)	(143,470)
Purchases of investments	(4,566)	(6,076)	(4,299)
Proceeds from sale of operating assets, net of cash disposed	0	15,347	31,705
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	(46,357)	(164,228)	(10,038)
Other, net	(6,640)	(7,006)	(11,113)
Net cash used in investing activities	(388,672)	(402,635)	(137,215)
Cash flows from financing activities:
(Payments) issuance of commercial paper, net	(261,200)	261,200	0
Proceeds from issuance of debt	0	1,190,506	0
Repayment of debt	(50,000)	(1,200,000)	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock-based compensation awards	3,021	117,737	129,957
Dividends paid	(449,917)	(375,119)	(451,327)
Repurchase of common stock	(398,865)	(1,525,873)	(554,121)
Other, net	(15,875)	(6,394)	(4,377)
Net cash used in financing activities	(1,172,836)	(1,537,943)	(879,868)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(2,628)	(216)	4,581
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	33,678	(403,169)	348,238
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	90,471	493,640	145,402
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 124,149	$ 90,471	$ 493,640