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turn back

verb
|Updated on: 18 Jul 2018

Definition of turn back

intransitive verb
1 a : to go in the reverse direction
b : to stop going forward
2 : to refer to an earlier time or place
transitive verb
1 : to drive back or away
2 : to stop the advance of
3 : to fold back
4 : give back, return
— turn back the clock
: to revert to or remind of a condition existing in the past

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Examples of turn back in a Sentence

  1. a cavalry charge that was turned back by withering fire

Recent Examples of turn back from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'turn back.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of turn back

15th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

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turn back Synonyms

Synonyms

beat off, fend (off), rebut, repel, repulse, stave off, turn away;

Near Antonyms

embrace, hail, welcome;

Related Words

defy, fight, hold off, oppose, resist, stand off, withstand;

deflect, ward (off);

rebuff, snub, spurn;

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  1. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for turn back

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