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

Beyond the solidarity such tragedies inspire and the accompanying political rhetoric, Rodríguez has little room to turn away any government willing to lend a hand during this crisis. — Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN Money, 29 June 2026

Thinning Russian air defense stockpiles and Ukraine's ever-increasing drone production have helped Kyiv seize new momentum this year, with analysts and some regional leaders seeing the tide slowly turn away from Russia's favor. — Aidan Stretch, CBS News, 26 June 2026

Continue reading … SERVICE REFUSED — Backlash erupts after Florida parlor turns away veterans and active-duty members. — FOXNews.com, 26 June 2026

Federal attorneys say people turned away at the border could come back later, though lines were thousands of people long when the policy was in place before. — ABC News, 25 June 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