: having the parts flat and spreading or radiating like the spokes of a wheel
rotate blue flowers
rotated; rotating
1
a
: to perform an act, function, or operation in turn
b
: to pass or alternate in a series
2
: 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
1
a
: to cause to turn or move about an axis or a center
b
: 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
2
: to cause to grow in rotation
rotate crops
3
: to cause to pass or act in a series : alternate
4
: to exchange (individuals or units) with others
Examples of rotate in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Anthony Wood, Space.com, 18 Dec. 2025
Place baking sheets on upper-third and lower-third racks; bake in oven until edges are lightly golden and set, 12 to 14 minutes, rotating baking sheets from top to bottom racks and from front to back once halfway through baking time.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 2025
This East Nashville staple boasts a rotating menu that is Mediterranean-focused with Middle-Eastern influences, drawing from Shemtov’s early childhood in Israel.
—Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 18 Dec. 2025
Cramer added that data center hype settled down months ago as investors rotated into sectors like aerospace, retail and fintech.
—Julie Coleman, CNBC, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rotate
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
Using the Two-meter Twin Telescope at Tenerife's Teide Observatory, researchers detected a faint jet of gas and dust blasting from 3I/ATLAS, slowly wobbling as the comet rotates.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 18 Dec. 2025
Place baking sheets on upper-third and lower-third racks; bake in oven until edges are lightly golden and set, 12 to 14 minutes, rotating baking sheets from top to bottom racks and from front to back once halfway through baking time.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 2025
This East Nashville staple boasts a rotating menu that is Mediterranean-focused with Middle-Eastern influences, drawing from Shemtov’s early childhood in Israel.
—Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 18 Dec. 2025
Cramer added that data center hype settled down months ago as investors rotated into sectors like aerospace, retail and fintech.
—Julie Coleman, CNBC, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rotate
Cite this Entry
“Rotate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rotate. Accessed 20 Dec. 2025.
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