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 1, 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

After being turned away from Busan due to what was already an overflow of refugees, the ship arrived in Geoje, an island off the peninsula’s southeastern tip, where Sohn would spend the first seven years of his life. —Gawon Bae, CNN Money, 25 Dec. 2025

Wenski reminded people about the Christian story of Christmas — when Mary and Joseph were turned away from the overcrowded inn and sent to a stable to give birth. —Miami Herald, 25 Dec. 2025

The court in an unsigned order turned away an emergency request made by the administration, which said the troops are needed to protect federal agents involved in immigration enforcement in the Chicago area. —Christian Orozco, NBC news, 24 Dec. 2025

Unlike the biblical inn that turned away a pregnant Mary ahead of the birth of Jesus, the Pine Street Inn welcomed all for Christmas Eve. —Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 24 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for turn away

• aaa
• adonais
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• 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