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 sense 2, avert

intransitive verb

: to start to go away : depart

Synonyms of turn away

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

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

Sánchez was in right field during a mound visit, appeared to be talking to fans beyond the wall, turned away and then got struck in the right wrist area by what appeared to be a baseball. —Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2026

Then, some of the boats were turned away. —Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026

But the Iranian boats turned away after helicopters suddenly appeared, the report said without identifying the helicopters. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 30 May 2026

The vessels were forced to stop and turn away, semi-official news agency Tasnim reported, citing military sources. —Kyla Guilfoil, NBC news, 29 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for turn away

• aaa
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• axillae
• baa
• beaujolais
• bouvier
• breakaway

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