turn

turn

verb

Definition of TURN

1

to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis <turned the doorknob as quietly as possible>

Synonyms pivot, revolve, roll, rotate, spin, swing, swirl, swivel, twirl, twist, wheel, whirl

Related Words screw, unscrew; twiddle; coil, crank, reel, wind; circulate

2

to change the course or direction of (something) <the dog turned the stampeding flock of sheep around> <he turned his cart uphill>

Synonyms deflect, divert, redirect, swing, veer, wheel, whip

Related Words avert, deviate, move, rechannel, shift, shunt, sidetrack, swerve, switch, transfer; swivel, twist, whirl, zigzag; bend, curve, sway; reverse, turn back

3

to change one's course or direction <we turned left at the light> <the storm unexpectedly turned south and missed our area>

Synonyms detour, deviate, diverge, sheer, swerve, swing, turn off, veer, wheel

Related Words tack, zigzag; double (back), turn back

4

to eventually have as a state or quality <will turn 12 in six months>

Synonyms come, get, go, grow, run, turn, wax

Related Words alter, change, metamorphose, modify, mutate, transfigure, transform, transmute

Near Antonyms abide, be, continue, linger, remain, stay

5

to move in circles around an axis or center <the wheels turned, but the car was hopelessly stuck and wasn't moving>

Synonyms gyrate, pinwheel, pirouette, revolve, roll, rotate, turn, twirl, wheel, whirl

Related Words coil, curl, curve, round, spiral, swirl, twine, twist, wind; circle, circulate, encircle, orbit, ring; pivot, swivel

6

to give serious and careful thought to <turned the question every which way but could find no answer>

Synonyms chew over, cogitate, consider, contemplate, debate, deliberate, entertain, eye, kick around, meditate, mull (over), perpend, pore (over), question, revolve, ruminate, study, think (about or over), turn, weigh, wrestle (with)

Related Words muse (upon), reflect (on or upon), reminisce; analyze, explore, review; conclude, reason; second-guess, speculate (about); brood (about or over), dwell (on or upon), fixate (on or upon), fret (about or over), obsess (about or over); believe, conceive, opine; absorb, assimilate, digest, drink (in)

Near Antonyms disregard, ignore, overlook, slight; dismiss, pooh-pooh (also pooh), reject

7

to be determined by, based on, or subject (to) <what we do next turns on your answer to the following question>

Synonyms hang, hinge, ride, turn

Related Words base, establish, found, rest, stay; ground

8

to be in a confused state as if from being twirled around <all the new information made his head turn>

Synonyms reel, swim, turn, whirl

Related Words swirl

Near Antonyms calm, collect; settle, steady

9

to cause to have often negative opinions formed without sufficient knowledge <he did his best to turn his new friends against his ex-wife>

Synonyms bias, poison, turn

Related Words dispose, incline, predispose; influence, prepossess; convince, persuade, suggest