rotate

1 of 2

adjective

ro·tate ˈrō-ˌtāt

Synonyms of rotate next

: having the parts flat and spreading or radiating like the spokes of a wheel

rotate blue flowers

rotate

2 of 2

verb

ro·tate ˈrō-ˌtāt

especially British rō-ˈtāt

rotated; rotating

intransitive verb

: to perform an act, function, or operation in turn

: to pass or alternate in a series

: to turn about an axis or a center : revolve

especially : to move in such a way that all particles follow circles with a common angular velocity about a common axis

transitive verb

: to cause to turn or move about an axis or a center

: to cause (a plane region or line) to sweep out a volume or surface by moving around an axis so that each of its points remains at a constant distance from the axis

generate a torus by rotating a circle about an external line

: to cause to grow in rotation

rotate crops

: to cause to pass or act in a series : alternate

: to exchange (individuals or units) with others

rotatable

ˈrō-ˌtā-tə-bəl

also rō-ˈtā-

adjective

Example Sentences

Verb As the gear rotates, it turns the other gears. The Earth rotates on its axis. The planets rotate around the sun. The software allows you to rotate images. Rotate the sheet of paper 90 degrees. The staff rotates the weekend shift. We rotate—she does the dishes one week; I do them the next. You should rotate your car's tires once a year. See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Monsoons in Southern California occur when a shift in the weather pattern over the Four Corners states — Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico — causes winds to rotate and brings muggy air or rain to the region. —

Vanessa Arredondo, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2023 These open tombs are rotated through so that no single one gets too much foot traffic. —

Lilit Marcus, CNN, 16 May 2023 The first time the ad rotated in, Capaldi tried a couple of photos pointing up at himself — eh, not so funny. —

Jon Caramanica, New York Times, 6 May 2023 Radio announcers Johnny Doskow and Vince Controneo will rotate as play-by-play announcers during Kuiper’s absence. —

Josh Dubow, BostonGlobe.com, 6 May 2023 The event is also paired with the pop-up Hester Street Fair, which features a rotating line-up of artisanal vendors from the five boroughs on the park’s Fountain Terrace each Monday. —

Michael Schneider, Variety, 3 May 2023 To create consistent images, the researchers deployed software that automatically scaled, color calibrated, cropped, and rotated the photos. —

Byshefali Malhotra, science.org, 2 May 2023 Taking over the former Mo's Irish Pub space in the Alamo Quarry Market, Seasons 52 promises a regularly rotating menu of dishes with nothing clocking in at more than 595 calories. —

Paul Stephen, San Antonio Express-News, 27 Apr. 2023 An April Fools’ joke — that’s how both the European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield described Russia assuming the rotating presidency of the Security Council this month. —

Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 25 Apr. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rotate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.