twist

1 of 2

verb

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
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
c
: a distortion of meaning or sense
3
a
: an unexpected turn or development
weird twists of fateW. L. Shirer
b
: a clever device : trick
questions demanding special twists of thinkingNew Yorker
c
: a variant approach or method : gimmick
a kind of twist on the old triangle themeDave 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 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

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
But open doors and lower walls can create space for devils to stroll in unimpeded, and Shanley suggests how abusers might twist the logic of Vatican II to their own nefarious ends. Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 Tweaking the right piece of biological machinery — in this case, a specific ion channel — can drastically change performance, just as twisting the volume dial does on a loudspeaker. Quanta Magazine, 11 Mar. 2024 But both films trade on moments of casual cruelty, the ways that greed can twist love, and the masks humans often wear to manipulate those closest to them. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 9 Mar. 2024 The soil under the foundation wasn’t properly prepared, Miller said, causing the house to twist and stretch as the dirt settled under its weight. The Denver Post, 9 Mar. 2024 The two were the leaders of a relentless interior attack, taking and making a parade of tough layups and twisting reverse finishes as the Bulldogs took a 15-13 lead into the second quarter. Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2024 Also avoid heavy lifting, as well as any exercises that involve twisting the spine or working the abdominal wall against the force of gravity, says Helene Byrne, a prenatal and postpartum health and fitness expert and founder of BeFit-Mom. Alesandra Dubin, Parents, 27 Feb. 2024 Using a traditional board stance like you would on a surf or skateboard forces you to twist your body to grasp the handle properly. Boone Ashworth, WIRED, 25 Feb. 2024 Carly loves to twist a wide strip of the aromatic peel over a martini, but the grated zest is equally delicious in cakes and scones. Zoe Denenberg, Bon Appétit, 23 Feb. 2024
Noun
In the second pic, Megan opted for loose waves worn over one shoulder but stuck with the deep part, this time with a piece-y twist on the side bang. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 13 Mar. 2024 With its lovable cast of oddballs, its twist on the reality/situational comedy format and the charm of its unsuspecting hero Ronald Gladden, the Amazon Freevee show delighted critics and captivated audiences. Partner Content, Variety, 12 Mar. 2024 The final act takes things into the realm of purer fantasy, a twist that may distress some viewers but that has been seeded in the movie from minute one. David Sims, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2024 The story blends supernatural horror with a twist reminiscent of The Twilight Zone, following a church organist (Candace Hilligoss) whose cross-country road trip after a fateful car accident is beset with ghostly horror. Katie Rife, EW.com, 12 Mar. 2024 Now Gold Spot has returned in the form of a limited-edition 13-year-old whiskey called the Generations Edition, with an Italian twist. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2024 Come for the journalism, stay for the laugh-out-loud plot twists, that kind of thing. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 11 Mar. 2024 Square Enix’s twist on Aerith’s death also means that the scenes following her murder play out much differently. Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 10 Mar. 2024 Cheers! Flowers Vineyard & Winery Tucked in Healdsburg’s rolling terrain, Flowers Vineyard & Winery relishes in bucolic beauty… with a twist. Kelsey Mulvey, Sunset Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'twist.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of twist was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near twist

Cite this Entry

“Twist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/twist. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

twist

1 of 2 verb
1
: to unite by winding one thread, strand, or wire around another
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

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