turndown

1 of 3

noun

turn·​down ˈtərn-ˌdau̇n 

1

: something turned down

also : an instance of turning something (such as a bed sheet) down

hotel turndown service

2

: rejection

3

: downturn

turndown

2 of 3

adjective

turn·​down ˈtərn-ˈdau̇n 

: capable of being turned down

especially : worn turned down

a turndown collar

turn down

3 of 3

verb

turned down; turning down; turns down

transitive verb

1

: to reduce the height or intensity of by turning a control

turn down the radio

2

: to fold or double down

turn down the sheets

3

: to decline to accept : reject

turned down the offer

4

: to turn (a card) face downward

intransitive verb

: to be capable of being folded or doubled down

the collar turns down

Synonyms of turndown

Noun

• refusal
• rejection
• denial

Verb

• refuse
• reject
• decline
• pass up

Examples of turndown in a Sentence

Noun

the request to use the restroom was just a formality—I really didn't expect a turndown

Verb

I'm afraid that I will have to turn down your invitation.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

As a sort of hyper-local turndown service, the owners leave little boxes of two Christopher Elbow chocolates by your pillow. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Mar. 2026

For luxury hotels where the staff offers daily cleaning services and nightly turndown services, guests should leave a little more. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 10 Feb. 2026

Adjective

Rooms come with a yoga mat and foam roller, and nightly turndown service is inspired by Ozark folklore, with small tokens like red string, wildflower seeds, or stones left as mementos. —Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 9 Dec. 2025

The Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel helps guests prepare for silverback sightings by providing complimentary gaiters, backpacks and hats; packing lunch for the outing; and leaving walking sticks as turndown amenities. —Jennifer Kester, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025

Verb

This reality forces parents, usually mothers, to cut back their hours, turn down opportunities, or leave the workforce. —Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari, New York Daily News, 9 Mar. 2026

The Chiefs don’t have as much money to spend in free agency as many other teams, but Kelce, 36, is expected to turn down more lucrative offers to stay with the Chiefs, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport said. —Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1849, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1763, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1533, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Rhymes for turndown

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown

Kids Definition

turn down

verb

1

: to fold back or down

2

: to lower by turning a control

turn down the heat

3

: reject entry 1 sense 1

turned down the job