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
Examples of turn back in a Sentence
a cavalry charge that was turned back by withering fire
Recent Examples on the Web
The monthly number, which represents the percentage of people who are unemployed and looking for work is expected turn back up to 4.2% when the July jobs report is released on Friday, Aug. 1.
—
Jim Sergent, USA Today, 30 July 2025
China is building out clean energy at a blistering pace, as the US takes a chainsaw to its wind and solar sectors and makes a hard turn back toward fossil fuels.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 29 July 2025
On Sanctioned Russian Military Factory US-Allied Military Planes Involved in Airspace Scare
How Iran Missiles Prepared US Patriot Units for Pacific War
Japan is cautiously turning back to nuclear power, with a new law allowing reactors to operate beyond 60 years taking effect in June.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 July 2025
Putin’s fever-pitch passion since then has been to turn back time and revive the Soviet empire, even if that means Russian tanks and troops reinvade Eastern Europe and other post-Soviet realms.
—Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 27 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for turn back
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jim Sergent, USA Today, 30 July 2025
China is building out clean energy at a blistering pace, as the US takes a chainsaw to its wind and solar sectors and makes a hard turn back toward fossil fuels.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 29 July 2025
On Sanctioned Russian Military Factory US-Allied Military Planes Involved in Airspace Scare
How Iran Missiles Prepared US Patriot Units for Pacific War
Japan is cautiously turning back to nuclear power, with a new law allowing reactors to operate beyond 60 years taking effect in June.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 July 2025
Putin’s fever-pitch passion since then has been to turn back time and revive the Soviet empire, even if that means Russian tanks and troops reinvade Eastern Europe and other post-Soviet realms.
—Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 27 July 2025
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 7 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share