turn back

verb

turned back; turning back; turns back

intransitive verb

1

a

: to go in the reverse direction

b

: to stop going forward

2

: to refer to an earlier time or place

transitive verb

1

: to drive back or away

2

: to stop the advance of

3

: to fold back

4

: give back, return

Phrases

turn back the clock

: to revert to or remind of a condition existing in the past

Synonyms

• beat off
• fend (off)
• rebut
• repel
• repulse
• stave off
• turn away

Examples of turn back in a Sentence

a cavalry charge that was turned back by withering fire

Recent Examples on the Web

In a comedic twist, the Labrador retriever was filmed turning back to his owner during the drive, with a smug look on his face as if to boast about his comfortable spot. —Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 June 2025

So to have a bit of a spotlight turned back on you, at this stage, is incredibly gratifying. —Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 10 June 2025

After her interludes, my father turns back to me and says, grinning, Okay, now back to Scheherazade’s turn. —Hala Alyan june 9, Literary Hub, 9 June 2025

Flight 449 took off towards Chicago O'Hare International Airport at around 6:05 a.m. local time on Saturday, June 7, only to turn back to Des Moines International Airport around 30 minutes into the journey, Des Moines Register and local outlet KCCI reported. —Escher Walcott, People.com, 8 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Rhymes for turn back

• aback
• anzac
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback

Kids Definition

turn back

verb

1

: to go in the reverse direction : return

turned back for home

2

: to stop the advance of : check

turned back the enemy