twist

1 of 2

verb

ˈtwist 

twisted; twisting; twists

transitive verb

1

a

: to unite by winding

twisting strands together

b

: to make by twisting strands together

twist thread from yarn

c

: to mingle by interlacing

2

: twine, coil

3

a

: to wring or wrench so as to dislocate or distort

especially : sprain

twisted my ankle

b

: to alter the meaning of : distort, pervert

twisted the facts

c

: contort

twisted his face into a grin

d

: to pull off, turn, or break by torsion

twist the nut off the bolt

e

: to cause to move with a turning motion

twisted her chair to face the fire

f

: to form into a spiral shape

g

: to cause to take on moral, mental, or emotional deformity

celebrity has twisted their sense of decorum

h

: to make (one's way) in a winding or devious manner to a destination or objective

intransitive verb

1

: to follow a winding course : snake

2

a

: to turn or change shape under torsion

b

: to assume a spiral shape

c

: squirm, writhe

d

: to dance the twist

3

of a ball : to rotate while taking a curving path or direction

4

: turn sense 3a

twisted around to see behind him

twist

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: an act of twisting : the state of being twisted

b

: a dance performed with strenuous gyrations especially of the hips

c

: the spin given the ball in any of various games

d

: a spiral turn or curve

e(1)

: torque or torsional stress applied to a body (such as a rod or shaft)

(2)

: torsional strain

(3)

: the angle through which a thing is twisted

2

a

: a turning off a straight course

b

: eccentricity, idiosyncrasy

c

: a distortion of meaning or sense

3

a

: an unexpected turn or development

weird twists of fate

—W. L. Shirer

b

: a clever device : trick

questions demanding special twists of thinking

—New Yorker

c

: a variant approach or method : gimmick

a kind of twist on the old triangle theme

—Dave Fedo

4

: something formed by twisting or winding: such as

a

: a strip of citrus peel used to flavor a drink

b

: a baked piece of twisted dough

c

: a thread, yarn, or cord formed by twisting two or more strands together

d

: a strong tightly twisted sewing silk

e

: tobacco leaves twisted into a thick roll

5

: a front or back dive in which the diver twists sideways a half or full turn before entering the water

twisty

ˈtwi-stē 

adjective

Phrases

twist in the wind

: to be left to face a difficult situation without support or help

twist one's arm

: to bring strong pressure to bear on one

Synonyms

Verb

• bend
• color
• cook
• distort
• falsify
• fudge
• garble
• misinterpret
• misrelate
• misrepresent
• misstate
• pervert
• slant
• warp

Noun

• twisting
• wrench
• wrenching
• wresting
• wringing

Examples of twist in a Sentence

Verb

The toy can be twisted into different shapes.

She twisted balloons into the shapes of different animals.

The antenna was twisted out of shape.

The car was a heap of twisted metal after the accident.

He twists his lip into an odd expression when he's thinking.

twist the dials on the radio

The bottle cap twists off.

Noun

a simple twist of the wrist

The jar should open with a twist of the lid.

The road has some nasty twists.

The coastal road had many twists and turns.

It was a film noir with some clever twists.

In an unusual twist, the police arrested one of their own.

They were brought together by a strange twist of fate.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The grind size is adjustable via the metal knob at the top; just twist it for finer or coarser results. —Francesca Krempa, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025

High in California’s White Mountains, twisted by wind and time, stands a Great Basin bristlecone pine known as Methuselah. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025

Noun

Joseph Kosinski is giving another iconic ’80s IP a contemporary twist. —Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 28 Apr. 2025

This 323-Square-Foot Home Is Meant to Look Like a Luxury Hotel By Nicolas Milon Looking to give a traditional-style space a more eccentric twist? —Dan Howarth, Architectural Digest, 28 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, probably from Middle Dutch twisten, from twist twine, discord, quarrel; akin to Old English -twist (in candeltwist candlesnuffers, mæsttwist twin support for a mast), Middle English twisten to be forked, Middle High German zwist quarrel, Old English twi- twi-

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Phrases Containing twist

• French twist
• get one's knickers in a twist
• round the twist
• the twist
• twist and turn
• twist drill
• twist someone's arm
• twist someone's words
• twist tie
• twist/turn the knife (in the wound)

Rhymes for twist

• cist
• cyst
• fist
• gist
• grist
• hissed
• kissed
• kist
• list
• missed
• mist
• schist

Kids Definition

twist

1 of 2 verb

ˈtwist 

1

: to unite by winding one thread, strand, or wire around another

2

: twine entry 2 sense 2

3

a

: to turn so as to sprain or hurt

twisted my ankle

b

: to change the meaning of

twisted the facts

c

: to pull off, rotate, or break by a turning force

twisted a small branch off the tree

4

: to follow a winding course

twist

2 of 2 noun

1

: a thread, yarn, or cord made by twisting two or more strands together

2

: an act of twisting : the state of being twisted

3

: a spiral turn or curve

4

: a strong personal tendency : bent

5

: a changing of meaning

6

: something (as a plan of action) that is both surprising and strange