turnover

noun turn·over \ ˈtərn-ˌō-vər \

|Updated on: 13 Aug 2018

Definition of turnover

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

See turnover defined for English-language learners

See turnover defined for kids

Examples of turnover in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of turnover from the Web

The resignation of Walter Higgins adds to challenges for a company that is $9 billion in debt and has seen a turnover of leaders since the Category 4 storm hit Puerto Rico.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Papa John’s founder apologizes for racial slur," 12 July 2018
The resignation of Walter Higgins adds to challenges for a company that is $9 billion in debt and has seen a turnover of leaders since the Category 4 storm hit Puerto Rico.

— danica coto, chicagotribune.com, "CEO of Puerto Rico's bankrupt power company abruptly resigns," 11 July 2018
Bender, who played 29 minutes, also didn’t have a single turnover.

— scott bordow, azcentral, "Suns' Dragan Bender turns up aggressiveness, has big night in win over Orlando," 10 July 2018
The law also requires businesses with a turnover greater than £36m ($48m) to publish a plan to prevent abuses in their supply chain.

— The Economist, "Britain’s new law against modern slavery secures a rare conviction," 5 July 2018
But because retinol causes a quick turnover of skin cells, flaky skin might result.

— adam hurly, GQ, "How to Fix Your Dehydrated Skin," 3 July 2018
Boutaib, though, got his revenge on the Spanish goal, taking advantage of a shocking turnover from La Roja in their own half to break through on goal and slot home on minute 14, giving the Atlas Lions their first goal of the tournament.

— SI.com, "Spain 2-2 Morocco: Late Drama Sees La Roja Top Group B After Falling Behind Twice," 25 June 2018
The developer’s request comes as the city adjusts to a major turnover in leadership.

— brittany wallman, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Taller Alexan tower is better fit for skyline, Fort Lauderdale staff says," 19 June 2018
Ayton was nervous and out of sorts in Phoenix’s first game, had double-doubles in the Suns’ wins over Sacramento and Orlando and then committed six turnovers in a lackluster performance against Philadelphia on Thursday.

— scott bordow, azcentral, "Phoenix Suns' summer-league takeaways: Deandre Ayton's progress, efforts of Davon Reed, Shaq Harrison," 13 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'turnover.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of turnover

14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 5

See Words from the same year

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Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

turnover

adjective

Definition of turnover

: capable of being turned over

First Known Use of turnover

circa 1849

in the meaning defined above

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turn over

verb

Definition of turn 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

— turn over a new leaf

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

See turn over defined for kids

Examples of turn over in a Sentence

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 of turn over from the Web

David Thomas, the inspector general at the time, turned over a lengthy investigation to both federal and Marion County prosecutors.

— ryan martin, Indianapolis Star, "Top Indiana Republicans call on Attorney General Curtis Hill to resign amid groping allegations," 5 July 2018
The content of the items turned over to the government Monday was not identified as part of Jones' two-page report to U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood.

— john bacon, USA TODAY, "Court-ordered review in Cohen raid yields 1.3M items for government," 2 July 2018
Place a heatproof plate upside down over pan; turn over plate and pan; remove pan.

— kathryn gregory, The Courier-Journal, "Celebrate Fourth of July with these Louisville chef throwback recipes," 2 July 2018
Over the past four years, as their supporting cast has repeatedly turned over, Livingston and Andre Iguodala have been heady leaders of the second unit.

— connor letourneau, SFChronicle.com, "Shaun Livingston: How Warriors guard peaked when it mattered most," 1 July 2018
Contending teams—particularly those home to the best player in the league—do not turn over their rosters with just 29 games to play.

— rob mahoney, SI.com, "Months Before LeBron's Free Agency, the Cavaliers Braced for the Worst," 29 June 2018
Some transcripts turned over so far have included unidentified and misidentified speakers, summaries instead of transcription and talks that were in person labeled as calls, according to a defense motion.

— bruce vielmetti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Man accused of mass shooting plot in Milwaukee wins a sliver of freedom," 27 June 2018
The establishments' owners turn over their kitchens to refugee chefs for an evening, allowing them to prepare sampling platters of their country's cuisine and share a taste of their home.

— lorin eleni gill, The Christian Science Monitor, "US restaurants host refugee chefs as part of worldwide festival," 26 June 2018
Acting City Manager Patrick Duhaney turned over to council a budget that slashed human services and violence reduction programming by more than $800,000.

— sharon coolidge, Cincinnati.com, "Cincinnati council members agreed on a budget. Here are the winners and losers.," 25 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'turn over.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of turn over

14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

turn over Synonyms

TURNOVER Defined for English Language Learners

turnover

noun

Definition of turnover for English Language Learners

: the amount of money that is received in sales by a store or company
: the rate at which people leave a place, company, etc., and are replaced by others
: the rate at which the goods in a store are sold and replaced by other goods