turn away

verb

turned away; turning away; turns away

transitive verb

1

a

: to refuse admittance or acceptance to

b

: to send away : reject, dismiss

c

: repel

2

: deflect sense 2, avert

intransitive verb

: to start to go away : depart

Synonyms of turn away

• repel
• turn back
• resist
• repulse
• fend (off)
• beat off
• stave off

Examples of turn away in a Sentence

using tree branches, the campers were able to turn away the charging fox, which was apparently rabid

Recent Examples on the Web

Grassroots groups that help young people turn away from gun violence recently worked with Junior Cee Niko-Semos to build his résumé. — Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 2 Aug. 2026

Mali then turned away from its traditional Western partners to Russia — first to the Wagner Group, a private organization that acted as Russia’s diplomatic proxy. — ABC News, 31 July 2026

The high cost might turn away some fans, but everything is expensive at a game these days. — Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 31 July 2026

Zahra was ultimately turned away at the Moroccan border town of Fnideq and did not enter Ceuta. — Kerry Breen, CBS News, 31 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Rhymes for turn away

• aaa
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• axillae
• baa
• beaujolais
• bouvier
• breakaway

Kids Definition

turn away

verb

: to refuse to let in : send away

all the seats were sold and a large crowd had to be turned away