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, avert

intransitive verb

: to start to go away : depart

Synonyms

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

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

Some lined the walls while others who were turned away waited outside. —J. David Goodman, New York Times, 14 Nov. 2023

Chinese consumers turned away from Japanese merchandise after Japan began releasing water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in August, Shiseido said in third-quarter results issued after Friday's market close. —Kosaku Narioka, WSJ, 13 Nov. 2023

Luna and Wren then posed together in front of pumpkins, followed by an adorable close up video of Wren looking at the camera before turning away. —Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 26 Oct. 2023

Note that many restaurants have strict dress codes or age restrictions, so be sure to look them up ahead of time so you’re not turned away. —Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2023

Many travelers are turned away there, Shawa said, adding that Palestinians are regularly mistreated there. —Abbas Al Lawati, CNN, 17 Oct. 2023

Russia’s days as key arbiter and peacekeeper in the region may be numbered, as Armenia turns away from its traditional protector in Moscow and seeks new sources of support to the West. —Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Oct. 2023

One donor who asked to be unnamed so as to talk candidly told ABC News that several major GOP donors have turned away from DeSantis and are expected to coalesce around Haley soon. —Soo Rin Kim, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2023

In 2015, the National Labor Relations Board unanimously turned away an attempt by football players at Northwestern University to organize. —Matt Ford, The New Republic, 24 Oct. 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

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

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