turn back

verb

turned back; turning back; turns back

intransitive verb

1

a

: to go in the reverse direction

b

: to stop going forward

2

: to refer to an earlier time or place

transitive verb

1

: to drive back or away

2

: to stop the advance of

3

: to fold back

4

: give back, return

see also turn back the clock

Synonyms of turn back

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

Examples of turn back in a Sentence

a cavalry charge that was turned back by withering fire

Recent Examples on the Web

The semifinals at the Ford Center in Frisco are wrapping up, and the day delivered everything from near‑upsets to a Grand Slam champion turning back the clock. —J.d. Miles, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2026

The rise of artificial intelligence is inevitable, and there is no turning back. —Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026

During that isolation my body turned back to the prison. —Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026

The insights into how the 37-year-old former league MVP has evolved across his NBA career, studying facets of the game, has led the Houston Rockets star to turn back the clock on the All-Star Game itself. —Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 14 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Rhymes for turn back

• aback
• anzac
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback

Kids Definition

turn back

verb

1

: to go in the reverse direction : return

turned back for home

2

: to stop the advance of : check

turned back the enemy