turnover

1 of 3

noun

turn·​over ˈtərn-ˌō-vər 

1

a(1)

: the amount received in sales for a stated period

(2)

: the ratio of sales for a stated period to average inventory

(3)

: a cycle of purchase, sale, and replacement of a stock of goods

b

: the number of persons hired within a period to replace those leaving or dropped from a workforce

also : the ratio of this number to the number in the average force maintained

c

: movement (as of goods or people) into, through, and out of a place

2

: the amount of business done

especially : the volume of shares traded on a stock exchange

3

: the act or an instance of a team's losing possession of a ball through error or a minor violation of the rules (as in basketball or football)

4

: a filled pastry made by folding half of the crust over the other half

5

: an act or result of turning over : upset

6

: a turning from one side, place, or direction to its opposite : shift, reversal

7

: a reorganization with a view to a shift in personnel : shake-up

8

: something that is turned over

9

: the continuous process of loss and replacement of a constituent (such as a cell or tissue) of a living system

turnover

2 of 3

adjective

: capable of being turned over

turn over

3 of 3

verb

turned over; turning over; turns over

transitive verb

1

a

: to turn from an upright position : overturn

b

: rotate

turn over a stiff valve with a wrench

also : to cause (an internal combustion engine) to begin firing

2

: deliver, surrender

I'm turning the job over to you

also : to lose possession of

turned the ball over three times

3

a

: to do business to the amount of

turning over $1000 a week

b

: to receive and dispose of (a stock of merchandise)

4

: to search (clothes, papers, etc.) by lifting or moving one by one

5

: to read or examine (something, such as a book) slowly or idly

intransitive verb

1

: upset, capsize

2

a

: rotate

b

of an engine : to have crankshaft rotation especially by external means (as by a starter)

the engine turned over but didn't start

3

a

of one's stomach : to heave with nausea

b

of one's heart : to seem to leap or lurch convulsively with sudden fright

Phrases

turn over a new leaf

: to make a change for the better especially in one's way of living

Synonyms

Verb

• relinquish
• render
• surrender
• deliver
• turn in
• hand over

Examples of turnover in a Sentence

Noun

The company had an increase in turnover this quarter.

The company has a high turnover rate.

We want to find ways to speed up inventory turnover.

Verb

reluctantly turned the ship over to the first mate while he went below to try to stop the leak

turned the evidence over to the police

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Decades of organizational psychology research support the notion that employee turnover has a spillover effect such that turnover begets turnover. —Ellen Choi, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025

Sales from do-it-yourself customers have slowed as higher mortgage rates have decreased housing turnover and dampened homeowners' demand for larger projects because of higher borrowing costs. —Melissa Repko, CNBC, 30 June 2025

Verb

Staff members who have seen the vast majority of executive leaders turn over in the last 10 months. —Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025

The suspect's dog had also been recovered and turned over to a humane society for care, officials said. —Megan Forrester, ABC News, 30 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 8

Adjective

1605, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for turnover

• carryover
• changeover
• crossover
• cutover
• flashover
• hangover
• holdover
• layover
• leftover
• makeover
• moreover
• passover

Kids Definition

turnover

1 of 2 noun

turn·​over

ˈtər-ˌnō-vər

1

: an act or the action of turning over

2

: a filled pastry with one half of the crust turned over the other

3

a

: movement (as of people) into, through, and out of a place

b

: the purchase, sale, and replacement of a stock of goods (as in a store)

c

: the number of persons hired to replace those leaving

turn over

2 of 2 verb

ˌtər-ˈnō-vər,

ˈtər-

1

: to shift in position from upright to upside down

2

a

: to give to another to take care of : hand over

b

: to lose possession of

turned the ball over three times

3

of one's stomach : to feel sick

4

: to begin or cause to begin to run

turned over the engine

Medical Definition

turnover

noun

turn·​over ˈtər-ˌnō-vər 

: the continuous process of loss and replacement of a constituent (as a neurotransmitter, cell, or tissue) of a living system

protein turnover in various pathological states

—J. C. Waterlow

hyperthyroidism accelerates bone turnover and shortens the normal bone remodeling cycle

—Richard Sadovsky