: 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
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Dec. 2025
The show is part of the larger fourth-Sunday Night Sessions with CJRO at Dazzle, which takes place every month and features rotating artists and themes.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 24 Dec. 2025
In November, the parties originally agreed to a deal in principle, which ended weeks of rotating strikes.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 23 Dec. 2025
The Casual Pint opened in Steele Creek’s Rivergate Shopping Center in 2017, offering beer lovers 35 rotating taps and light bites that included wings, flatbreads and more, CharlotteFive previously reported.
—Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 23 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
The team’s approach involved applying pulses at specific times to make counter-rotating errors consistent and correctable.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Dec. 2025
The show is part of the larger fourth-Sunday Night Sessions with CJRO at Dazzle, which takes place every month and features rotating artists and themes.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 24 Dec. 2025
In November, the parties originally agreed to a deal in principle, which ended weeks of rotating strikes.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 23 Dec. 2025
The Casual Pint opened in Steele Creek’s Rivergate Shopping Center in 2017, offering beer lovers 35 rotating taps and light bites that included wings, flatbreads and more, CharlotteFive previously reported.
—Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 23 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 29 Dec. 2025.
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