turndown

1 of 3

noun

turn·​down ˈtərn-ˌdau̇n How to pronounce turndown (audio)
1
: something turned down
also : an instance of turning something (such as a bed sheet) down
hotel turndown service
2
3

turndown

2 of 3

adjective

turn·​down ˈtərn-ˈdau̇n How to pronounce turndown (audio)
: 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
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

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
Suites come with turndown service, continental breakfasts delivered to the room each morning, and mountain views. Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 9 Mar. 2024 For the nightly turndown service, guests are presented with food and beverage items that increase melatonin, easing them into sleep naturally. Ronny Maye, Essence, 30 Nov. 2023 Other experiences to look forward to: surprise bush meals, romantic bath turndowns, and sipping whiskey by a crackling bonfire. Mark Lakin, Travel + Leisure, 27 Dec. 2023 Guests of the latter’s 14 guest rooms and two studios — all with full kitchens and private balconies — can dial the bar for complimentary Midnight Mezcal turndown service. Degen Pener, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Dec. 2023 And each evening, turndown service included a plate of chocolates and a small carafe of port. Pamela Wright, BostonGlobe.com, 21 July 2023 Splurge on the Premium Level room to gain entry to a special lounge and get turndown service. Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 19 July 2023 Instead of toss-away slippers at turndown, guests are gifted sturdy espadrilles at the beginning of their stay to use and take home. Jennifer Bradley Franklin, Travel + Leisure, 12 July 2023 At turndown, an aromatic scent of our choice was sprayed throughout the room to welcome a calming sleep. Brande Victorian, Essence, 6 June 2023
Adjective
Room service can be easily ordered via your in-room tablet, and there is nightly turndown service. Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 7 Aug. 2023
Verb
Marguerite Mariscal turned down the role of CEO at the Momofuku restaurant group and cooking product company numerous times before accepting it at just 29 years old in 2019. Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 11 Mar. 2024 After menopause, the negative part of the amygdala is turned down. Eileen Finan, Peoplemag, 10 Mar. 2024 Each cabin runs on a different system, meaning crew can turn down the heating in business class if those lie-flat beds are feeling a bit too cozy, but leave economy passengers warm in their thinner blankets. Julia Buckley, CNN, 9 Mar. 2024 The suit claims Perry’s former administrative assistant, who is white, applied for a promotion to executive assistant but was turned down in favor Paulino, who is Hispanic. Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024 Weber turned down a scholarship to Louisiana State University to marry his high school sweetheart. Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2024 Sometimes they haven’t been updated, which can lead to serious delays, missing a great offer, or turning down a kidney late in the process once the patient or the organ arrives at our center. Joshua Mezrich, STAT, 2 Mar. 2024 Both men were bought in the summer of 2022, which saw president Joan Laporta pull his famous 'economic levers', and famously turned down Premier PINC -0.1% League giants Chelsea in separate approaches made by the Blues' then-new owner Todd Boehly. Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 Tyronn Lue eased his way out of the quiet Clippers’ locker room, made a right turn down an equally quiet hallway at Crypto.com Arena and made another right into the media room to answer questions about how his team coughed up a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter against the Lakers. Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'turndown.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of turndown was in 1533

Dictionary Entries Near turndown

turn down

turndown

turndun

Cite this Entry

“Turndown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turndown. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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