How to Use turn back in a Sentence

turn back

verb
  • Gray stood on the mound as Bell turned back to the dugout.
    Bobby Nightengale, Cincinnati.com, 4 July 2019
  • This one turns back the clock to the Gamecocks’ 1980s look.
    Paul Lukas, SI.com, 29 Aug. 2019
  • Some of the team broke under the weight of it all and turned back.
    Cassidy Randall, Rolling Stone, 2 Mar. 2025
  • The three groups took their case to the appeals court but were turned back.
    Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Jan. 2024
  • At the end, turn back ½-inch of ribbon to overlap the start of the ribbon and pin.
    Sonja Carmon, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Apr. 2021
  • But as a bonus for the Panthers, Marchand has turned back the clock.
    Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 17 June 2025
  • Votto, the 37-year-old who continues to turn back the clock, was at the top of the list.
    Bobby Nightengale, The Enquirer, 12 Aug. 2021
  • There is no stopping this slow ebbing, no way to turn back the clock.
    Marina Koren, The Atlantic, 30 Sep. 2021
  • Once the guesser is clear to turn back around, let the game begin!
    Michella Oré, Glamour, 27 Dec. 2020
  • Once on board, and strapped in, there is no turning back.
    Maria Shine Stewart, cleveland, 17 Feb. 2020
  • Two other boats were crossing the bar at the same time and turned back to help.
    oregonlive.com, 5 July 2019
  • In one snap, Vergara turned back to hold up the peace sign and smile for the camera.
    Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 22 Aug. 2023
  • Kobayashi’s phone’s was last turned on at LAX on Nov. 11 at 4 p.m. and hasn’t been turned back on since.
    Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024
  • That turns back the clock on how Hamilton used to run teams into the ground.
    Richard Obert, azcentral, 24 Aug. 2019
  • The plane turned back to the runway, but struck approach lights about 1,000 feet from the end of the runway.
    Nicholas Rondinone, courant.com, 7 Oct. 2019
  • Advertisement Michalek turned back to the man in the yarmulke.
    Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Oct. 2023
  • Hendricks turned back the clock on the Padres after the first inning.
    Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2025
  • The trick will be to see whether these insights can be turned back against the invaders.
    Quanta Magazine, 30 May 2019
  • Nix knows that the acclaim could turn back into scorn as the leaves start to brown.
    Nubyjas Wilborn | [email protected], al, 31 Oct. 2021
  • Henry turns back to him, his eyes silver in the wash of the streetlight.
    Town & Country, 12 Aug. 2023
  • Crew members tried to get to the lower decks but were turned back by flames.
    Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2023
  • As such, Ohio State may not turn back to Teague for a heavy workload.
    Nathan Baird, cleveland, 11 Jan. 2021
  • Cruz turned back O’Rourke with the help of Trump, his bitter rival in 2016.
    Will Weissert, The Seattle Times, 7 Nov. 2018
  • Cher turned back time to the '80s for a skit during an appearance on The Tonight Show.
    Ilana Kaplan, Peoplemag, 8 Dec. 2023
  • Lionel Messi is turning back the clock and adding to the record books again.
    Sukhman Singh, New York Times, 29 June 2026
  • Climbing parties on the Normal Route had turned back earlier in the day.
    William Finnegan, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
  • After one more rejection by Canada, the ship turned back to Europe.
    Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2026
  • Kara talks her out of it, and when Ruthye walks away, Kara turns back to Krem and stabs him multiple times with a sword.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 27 June 2026
  • Maritime experts said at least four ships subsequently turned back from the corridor.
    Eleni Giokos, CNN Money, 27 June 2026
  • But at least three ships exiting the Persian Gulf through that route turned back Thursday.
    Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 25 June 2026

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

Last Updated: