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

What that meant is that vets who qualified for spots would be mostly turned away. — Eric Umansky, ProPublica, 11 Nov. 2026

One silver lining for Republicans is if Democrats overplay their election mandate with oversight investigations and progressive policies in ways that turn away the very voters who awarded them sizeable majorities. — Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 10 Nov. 2026

Andrew Thomas turned away seven shots for Seattle — none better than this one on a point-blank shot by Son Heung-min to keep it 2-0 in the 54th minute. — CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026

Andrew Thomas turned away seven shots for Seattle — none better than one on a point-blank shot by Son Heung-min to keep it 2-0 in the 54th minute. — Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 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