turn

1 of 2

verb

ˈtərn

turned; turning; turns

Synonyms of turn next

transitive verb

: to cause to move around an axis or a center : make rotate or revolve

turn a wheel

turn a crank

b(1)

: to cause to move around so as to effect a desired end (as of locking, opening, or shutting)

turned the knob till the door opened

(2)

: to affect or alter the functioning of (something, such as a mechanical device) or the level of (something, such as sound) by such movement

turn the oven to 400°

turn the music to full volume

: to execute or perform by rotating or revolving

turn handsprings

: to twist out of line or shape : wrench

had turned his ankle

a(1)

: to cause to change position by moving through an arc of a circle

turned her chair to the fire

(2)

: to cause to move around a center so as to show another side of

turn the page

(3)

: to cause (a scale) to move so as to register weight

: to revolve mentally : think over : ponder

: to reverse the sides or surfaces of : invert

turn pancakes

turn the shirt inside out

: such as

(1)

: to dig or plow so as to bring the lower soil to the surface

turn the compost weekly

(2)

: to make (a garment) over by reversing the material and resewing

turn a collar

(3)

: to invert (something, such as a character, rule, or slug) feet up and face down in setting type

: to reverse or upset the order or disposition of

everything was turned topsy-turvy

: to disturb or upset the mental balance of

a mind turned by grief

: to set in another especially contrary direction

: to bend or change the course of : divert

a battle that turned the tide of history

: to bend a course around or about : round

turned the corner at full speed

: to cause to retreat

used fire hoses to turn the mob

: to alter the drift, tendency, or expected result of

a(1)

: to direct or point (something, such as the face) in a specified way or direction

(2)

: to present by a change in direction or position

turning his back to his guests

: to direct (something, such as the attention or mind) toward or away from something

: to direct the employment of : apply, devote

turned his skills to the service of humankind

d(1)

: to cause to rebound or recoil

turns their argument against them

(2)

: to make antagonistic : prejudice

turn a child against its mother

e(1)

: to cause to go in a particular direction

turned our steps homeward

(2)

: drive, send

turn cows to pasture

turning hunters off his land

(3)

: to convey or direct out of an inverted receptacle

turn the mixture into a baking dish

: to bring to bear (as by aiming, pointing, or focusing) : train

turned the light into the dark doorway

turned a questioning eye toward her

a(1)

: to make acid or sour

(2)

: to change the color of (foliage)

b(1)

: convert, transform

turn defeat into victory

(2)

: translate, paraphrase

: to cause to become of a specified nature or appearance

turned him into a frog

embarrassment turned her face red

: to exchange for something else

turn coins into paper money

: to cause to defect to another side

: to shape especially in a rounded form by applying a cutting tool while revolving in a lathe

: to give a rounded form to by any means

turn the heel of a sock

: to shape or mold artistically, gracefully, or neatly

a well turned phrase

: to make a fold, bend, or curve in:

: to form by bending

turn a lead pipe

: to cause (the edge of a blade) to bend back or over : blunt, dull

: to gain in the course of business

turning a quick profit

: to keep (money, goods, etc.) moving

specifically : to dispose of (a stock) to make room for another

: to make use of

turned her education to advantage

: to carry to completion : pull off

turned a double play

turn a deal

: to engage in (an act of prostitution)

turn tricks

intransitive verb

: to move around on an axis or through an arc of a circle : rotate

b(1)

: to become focused on something specified

the conversation turned to baseball

(2)

: to have as a decisive factor : hinge

the argument turns on a point of logic

the outcome of the game turned on an interception

(3)

: to have a center (as of interest) in something specified

the discussion turned on the overall worth of the project

: to become giddy or dizzy : spin

heights always made his head turn

: to direct one's course

b(1)

: to reverse a course or direction

the tide has turned

(2)

: to have a reactive usually adverse effect

: to take a different course or direction

turned toward home

the main road turns sharply to the right

: to change position (as of one's head) so as to face another way

everyone turned to stare

: to face toward or away from someone or something

flowers turn toward the light

: to change one's attitude or reverse one's course of action to one of opposition or hostility

felt the world had turned against him

: to make a sudden violent assault especially without evident cause

dogs turning on their owners

: to direct one's attention to or away from someone or something

: to have recourse : refer, resort

turned to a friend for help

turned to his notes for the exact figures

: to direct one's efforts or activity : devote or apply oneself

turned to the study of the law

turned to a life of crime

d(1)

: to change one's religion

(2)

: to go over to another side or party : defect

: to become changed, altered, or transformed

the weather turned

: such as

(1)

: to change color

the leaves have turned

(2)

: to become sour, rancid, or tainted

the milk had turned

(3)

: to be variable or inconstant

(4)

: to become mentally unbalanced : become deranged

(5)

archaic : to become different

b(1)

: to pass from one state to another : change

water had turned to ice

(2)

: become, grow

his hair had turned gray

the weather turned bad

just turned twenty

(3)

: to become someone or something specified by change from another state : change into

turn pro

doctors turned authors

(4)

: to change by the passage of time

days turned into weeks and months

: to become curved or bent (as from pressure)

especially : to become blunted by bending

the edge of the knife had turned

: to operate a lathe

of merchandise : to be stocked and disposed of : change hands

turnable

ˈtər-nə-bəl

adjective

turn

2 of 2

noun

plural turns

: the action or an act of turning about a center or axis : revolution, rotation

: any of various rotating or pivoting movements in dancing or gymnastics

: the action or an act of giving or taking a different direction : change of course or posture

an illegal left turn

: such as

(1)

: a drill maneuver in which troops in mass formation change direction without preserving alignment

(2)

: any of various shifts of direction in skiing

(3)

: an interruption of a curve in figure skating

: a place at which something turns, turns off, or turns back : bend, curve

: deflection, deviation

: the action or an act of turning so as to face in the opposite direction : reversal of posture or course

an about turn

the turn of the tide

: a change effected by turning over to another side

a turn of the cards

: an act or deed affecting another especially when incidental or unexpected

one good turn deserves another

: a place, time, or opportunity accorded an individual or unit of a series in simple succession or in a scheduled order

waiting her turn in line

see also take turns

: a period of action or activity : go, spell

took a turn at the piano

: a period or tour of duty : shift

: a short act or piece (as for a variety show)

also : public appearance : performance

makes frequent guest star turns

e(1)

: an event in any gambling game after which bets are settled

(2)

: the order of the last three cards in faro

—used in the phrase call the turn

: an act of changing : alteration, modification

a nasty turn in the weather

: a change in tendency, trend, or drift

hoped for a turn in his luck

a turn for the better

an unexpected turn of events

: the beginning of a new period of time : the time when one period changes to the next

the turn of the century

: a fashioning of language or arrangement of words : manner of expression

skillful turns of phrase

: distinctive quality or character

: the shape or mold in which something is fashioned : cast

: a short trip out and back or round about

took a turn through the park

: something that revolves around a center: such as

a(1)

: lathe

(2)

: a catch or latch for a cupboard or cabinet door operated by turning a handle

: a musical ornament consisting of a group of four or more notes that wind about the principal note by including the notes next above and next below

: a special purpose or requirement

—used chiefly in the phrase serve one's turn

: the state or manner of being coiled or twisted

: a single round (as of rope passed about an object or of wire wound on a core)

: natural or special ability or aptitude : bent, inclination

a turn for logic

an optimistic turn of mind

: a special twist, construction, or interpretation

gave the old yarn a new turn

: a disordering spell or attack (as of illness, faintness, or dizziness)

: a nervous start or shock

snuck up on her and gave her quite a turn

: a complete transaction involving a purchase and sale of securities

also : a profit from such a transaction

: turnover sense 1a

: something turned or to be turned: such as

: a character or slug inverted in setting type

: a piece of type placed bottom up

Phrases

: to refuse to see : be oblivious

might turn a blind eye to the use of violence—

Arthur Krock

turn a deaf ear

: to refuse to listen

turn a hair

: to give a sign of distress or disturbance

did not turn a hair when told of the savage murder—

The Times Literary Supplement (London)

turn color

: to become of a different color

: blush, flush

: to grow pale

turn heads

: to attract favorable attention

the car's sleek design is bound to turn heads

turn loose

: to set free

turned loose the captured animal

: to free from all restraints

turned them loose with a pile of theme paper to write whatever they liked—

Elizabeth P. Schafer

: to fire off : discharge

: to open fire

turn one's back on

: reject, deny

would be turning one's back on history—

Pius Walsh

: forsake

turned his back on his obligations

turn one's hand or turn a hand

: to set to work : apply oneself

turn one's head

: to cause to become infatuated or conceited

success had not turned his head

turn one's stomach

: to disgust completely : nauseate

the foul smell turned his stomach

turn tail

: to turn away so as to flee

turn the other cheek

: to respond to injury or unkindness with patience : forgo retaliation

turn the tables

: to bring about a reversal of the relative conditions or fortunes of two contending parties

turn the trick

: to bring about the desired result or effect

turn turtle

: capsize, overturn

at every turn

: on every occasion : continually

they opposed her at every turn

by turns

: one after another in regular succession

: variously, alternately

a book that is by turns pedantic, delightful, and infuriating

in turn

: in due order of succession

on the turn

: at the point of turning

tide is on the turn

out of turn

: not in due order of succession

play out of turn

: at a wrong time or place and usually imprudently

talking out of turn

to a turn

: to perfection

Examples of turn in a Sentence

Verb He turned the key and opened the door. She slowly turned the doorknob. Turn the steering wheel all the way to the left. Someone turned the switch and the lights came on. They turned and walked away. She turned to leave—but stopped. He turned aside to let me pass. The patient turned onto his side. The photographer asked her to turn slightly to her left. He turned himself around to see the back of his shirt in the mirror. Noun You have to wait your turn in line. Is it my turn yet? Give the wheel another turn. He tightened the screw with one last turn. With a turn of the switch, the lights came back on. Take a left-hand turn at the next intersection. a quick turn of her head See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Francis, the first pope from the Americas, turns 87 next month and has battled ill health for years, canceling multiple engagements and appearing in public in a wheelchair. —

Claudio Lavanga, NBC News, 27 Nov. 2023 But noting that his team has turned the ball over just eight times, Betofe likes his side’s chances. —

Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Nov. 2023 The charging dock, which doubles as a speaker, turns this tablet into a smart display. —

Medea Giordano, WIRED, 27 Nov. 2023 In 2007, when Kip was about to turn twenty-five, he was transferred into the adult prison system, and ever since he has been confined at the Oregon State Correctional Institution, a medium-security prison in Salem. —

Jennifer Gonnerman, The New Yorker, 27 Nov. 2023 The novel is notorious for its jarring third-act swerve, when Eileen’s budding friendship with her office’s glamorous new psychiatrist, Rebecca (played in the film by Anne Hathaway), turns into something much darker, hurtling toward a swift and shocking final scene. —

Seija Rankin, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Nov. 2023 Several people spoke out against the idea of turning the Buffalo National River into a national park and preserve. —

Bill Bowden, arkansasonline.com, 26 Nov. 2023 Krasinski’s role was a nod to Marvel fans’ pleas to cast him as the hero in the years following Disney’s acquisition — with his wife, Emily Blunt, as the fan favorite to play Susan Storm, aka the Invisible Woman, who gains the ability to project powerful force fields and turn invisible at will. —

Jordan Moreau, Variety, 15 Nov. 2023 Beautiful, unique, and continuing the sparkling geode dessert trend, this recipe teaches you the surprisingly simple technique that turns rock candy into crystal magic. —

Su-Jit Lin, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Nov. 2023

Noun

As CDs in turn gave way to downloads and then to streaming, the cassette faded from the mainstream, but found refuge on the fringes, in the basements and bedrooms, the backs of zines and the depths of Bandcamp, the merch table in the alcove at the club (and, more recently, at Urban Outfitters). —

Jon Michaud, The New Yorker, 16 Nov. 2023 Additionally, wildlife such as small mammals, birds, lizards, and amphibians rely on these insects as their own food source which in turn creates a perfectly balanced ecosystem. —

Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 16 Nov. 2023 And Dodi in turn is treated as a spineless daddy’s boy whose inability to read the room ultimately dooms himself and his relatively new girlfriend. —

Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 16 Nov. 2023 Paramount, in turn, fired back with its own counterclaim for breach of contract, arguing that WBD is claiming violations of terms that weren’t agreed-upon in the deal. —

Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Nov. 2023 What that spacing does is provide a stable ferromagnetic structure in the crystal, which in turn promotes an inherent characteristic of the crystal called magnetic anisotropy. —

IEEE Spectrum, 15 Nov. 2023 New Orleans has a huge Vietnamese population, and in turn, a lot of Vietnamese restaurants, but Lilly’s is one of very few non-fusion Vietnamese restaurants in this walkable section of New Orleans. —

Ana Castro, Bon Appétit, 15 Nov. 2023 Over time, these habits can lead to a higher body fat percentage and, in turn, a higher risk for type 2 diabetes. —

Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 15 Nov. 2023 Rising temperatures directly affect the growth and survival of trees and, in turn, their ability to store carbon. Forests on the move As atmospheric warming frees trees from the icy grip of cold temperatures, adult trees can respond by growing faster. —

David J. Cooper, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2023 See More

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

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English; partly from Old English tyrnan & turnian to turn, from Medieval Latin tornare, from Latin, to turn on a lathe, from tornus lathe, from Greek tornos; partly from Anglo-French turner, tourner to turn, from Medieval Latin tornare; akin to Latin terere to rub — more at throw entry 1

Noun

Middle English; partly from Anglo-French tur, tourn turning, circuit (from turner to turn); partly from Middle English turnen to turn

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of turn was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Phrases Containing turn

Cite this Entry

Style

“Turn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turn. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

turn

1 of 2 verb

ˈtərn

: to move or cause to move around an axis or center : rotate, revolve

wheels turning slowly

turn a crank

: to bring about a desired end by using a control

turned the volume down

: to do by revolving

turn handsprings

: to twist out of line or shape : wrench

turn an ankle

: to change in position usually by moving through an arc of a circle

they turned and walked away

turn the page

turn a pancake

: to examine as if by turning over : think about

turned the problem over in her mind

: to make over (as a garment) by reversing the material and sewing back together

turn a collar

: to upset the order of

everything was turned topsy-turvy

: to set in another and especially opposite direction

: to change course or direction

the road turns to the left

turning to a different subject

: to go around

turn a corner

: to direct toward or away from something

we turned toward home

: to seek out as a source of something

turn to a friend for help

: to change or cause to change

water turned to ice

the witch turned the prince into a frog

: to cause to spoil : sour

the milk had turned

: to change in color

leaves turning in the fall

: to pass from one state to another : become

hair turned gray

had just turned fourteen

: translate sense 3a

: to give a rounded form to (as on a lathe)

turn

2 of 2 noun

: the action or an act of turning about a center

: a change or changing of direction, course, or position

a left turn

the turn of the tide

: a place where something turns

at the turn of the road

: a change or changing of general state or condition

took a turn for the better

a turn in the weather

: a short walk or ride

took a turn through the park

: an act affecting another

one good turn deserves another

: a period of action or activity : spell

a turn as guard

: proper place in a waiting line or time in a schedule

wait your turn

: a special purpose

that will serve the turn

: special quality

a neat turn of phrase

: the shape or form in which something is molded : cast

an odd turn of mind

: a single circle or loop (as of rope passed around an object)

: natural or special skill

a turn for languages

Medical Definition

turn

transitive verb

ˈtərn

: to injure by twisting or wrenching

turned his ankle

Legal Definition

turn

intransitive verb

: to have a specified decisive factor

—used with on

the first of the cases…turned on first amendment issues—

K. A. Cohen

Last Updated: 30 Nov 2023 - Updated example sentences

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turn

verb

noun

Synonyms

Examples of turn in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near turn

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition

Legal Definition