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

The plane was told to wait for clearance from the Jordanian military and then turned away. — Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026

While customers drawn by the deal monopolized tables to gorge on order after order of shrimp, restaurants ran out of shrimp and turned away regular customers. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026

The park may also further tinker with the individual cars that already turn away from the Toluca Lake area during key scream moments. — Lynette Rice, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026

The veteran goaltender turned away anything and everything Carolina sent his way in his return to the Panthers. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 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