Amount of distribution received from equity method investee for return on investment, classified as operating activities. Excludes distribution for return of investment, classified as investing activities.

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The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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Amount of consolidated retained earnings that represent undistributed (not yet received) earnings from 50% or less owned persons accounted for by the equity method (equity method investees).

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Cumulative distributions from an equity method investee in excess of the entity's investment balance in the investee.

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Number of largest unconsolidated affiliates.

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Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2018 USD ($) Entity	May 31, 2017 USD ($)	May 31, 2016 USD ($)
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Distributions from unconsolidated affiliates	$ 89,787	$ 102,015	$ 86,513
Distributions in excess of investment in unconsolidated affiliate	$ 55,198	63,038
Number of largest unconsolidated affiliates \| Entity	4
Consolidated retained earnings undistributed earnings net of tax	$ 42,636	28,803
ArtiFlex
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Percent of ownership interest held in unconsolidated affiliates	50.00%
ClarkDietrich
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Percent of ownership interest held in unconsolidated affiliates	25.00%
Samuel Steel Pickling Company
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Percent of ownership interest held in unconsolidated affiliates	31.25%
Serviacero Worthington
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Percent of ownership interest held in unconsolidated affiliates	50.00%
WAVE
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Percent of ownership interest held in unconsolidated affiliates	50.00%
Distributions in excess of investment in unconsolidated affiliate	$ 55,198	$ 63,038
Zhejiang Nisshin Worthington Precision Specialty Steel Co
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Percent of ownership interest held in unconsolidated affiliates	10.00%