turn back
verb
turned back; turning back; turns back
1
a
: to go in the reverse direction
b
: to stop going forward
2
: to refer to an earlier time or place
1
: to drive back or away
2
: to stop the advance of
3
: to fold back
see also turn back the clock
Examples of turn back in a Sentence
a cavalry charge that was turned back by withering fire
Recent Examples on the Web
Unable to turn back against the strong currents of the Napo, the party, now reduced to just 50, carried on downriver toward the Amazon.
—
Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
Hearing the Creature screaming his name, Victor turns back.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Jan. 2026
Then the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Day, leaving Ole Miss fans to wonder if their offensive coachmen might turn back into mice.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
Beyond that, DeCosta needs to turn back the clock and remember how some of the most successful Ravens teams were built.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for turn back
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Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
Hearing the Creature screaming his name, Victor turns back.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Jan. 2026
Then the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Day, leaving Ole Miss fans to wonder if their offensive coachmen might turn back into mice.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
Beyond that, DeCosta needs to turn back the clock and remember how some of the most successful Ravens teams were built.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for turn back
Cite this Entry
“Turn back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turn%20back. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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