turn 1 of 2

1
as in to rotate
to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis turned the doorknob as quietly as possible

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to swing
to change the course or direction of (something) the dog turned the stampeding flock of sheep around he turned his cart uphill

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in to deviate
to change one's course or direction we turned left at the light the storm unexpectedly turned south and missed our area

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in to become
to eventually have as a state or quality will turn 12 in six months

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5
6
7
as in to depend
to be determined by, based on, or subject (to) what we do next turns on your answer to the following question

Synonyms & Similar Words

8
as in to spin
to be in a confused state as if from being twirled around all the new information made his head turn

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

9
as in to persuade
to cause to have often negative opinions formed without sufficient knowledge he did his best to turn his new friends against his ex-wife

Synonyms & Similar Words

turn

2 of 2

noun

1
2
3
4
5
as in bout
a sudden experiencing of a physical or mental disorder a sudden turn of dizziness that may have been brought on by a change in her medication

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

6
as in act
a performance regularly presented by an individual or group between the show's two major musical acts, there was a short turn by a juggling troupe

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of turn
Verb
Others dive the Vandenberg, a massive former military ship turned artificial reef now draped in coral and schooling fish, or swing by the Southernmost Point for a photo with the iconic buoy. Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026 Meanwhile, the breakeven price for projects in Venezuela to turn a profit is more like $80, according to Claudio Galimberti, the chief economist for Rystad Energy. Camila Domonoske, NPR, 7 Jan. 2026
Noun
In the postgame swirl, Alex Forsyth made a wrong turn. Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026 Like Hostetler, Stidham has spent years in the NFL waiting his turn. Tim Rohan, NBC news, 24 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for turn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turn
Verb
  • An Innovation Council, a rotating group from across the company, meets monthly to champion new concepts.
    Daniel Scheffler, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
  • Again against Chicago, Minnesota failed to contain the ball off the bounce and didn’t rotate well when it was forced to help after being beat at the point of attack.
    Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Minnesota swung that deal for Dillingham as a creative way to get around the team-building restrictions of the aprons.
    Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
  • How golfers rely on — and leverage — technology fascinates Skenes, from the numbers culled relative to swing speed and ball flight to how their bodies must be in sync to generate so much club speed.
    Tribune News Service, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Our minds are incredibly skilled at filling in the gaps in our memories with plausible but incorrect details; this leads people to affirm memories that deviate from reality, or even memories of events that never actually occurred.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
  • Like a suspiciously cheap sofa or a $20 bike helmet, shoes that deviate significantly from standard pricing raise eyebrows.
    Maggie Slepian, Outside, 26 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut declared states of emergency ahead of the snowstorm, activating emergency protocols and warning people to stay off the roads, which could also become icy as the storm progresses in subfreezing temperatures.
    January 25, CBS News, 25 Jan. 2026
  • But with the right approach, this disruption can become a catalyst for building a more resilient, intentional and meaningful career.
    Cynthia Pong, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • There’s also a revolving cast of characters, like musical theater snob Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale), her pianist brother Ryan (Lucas Grabeel), and Troy’s puppy-dog-esque best friend Chad Danforth (Corbin Bleu), all with varying levels of excitement about Troy’s sudden interest in arpeggio scales.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 24 Jan. 2026
  • There’s no revolving bookshelf in place just yet.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Take the time to ponder outdated habits or emotional scars.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Advertisement China has long pondered surgical strikes against Taiwan’s leadership, though any such move is likely to be self-defeating, given the island is a sustained democracy.
    Charlie Campbell, Time, 5 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Traditional infrastructures depend on predictable, centralized controls, whereas the Web3 environment operates on open networks, real-time settlement, and evolving code.
    CBS News, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
  • Whether the next chapter involves continuity or consolidation will depend on both macro metal markets and the company’s execution of its ambitious production and exploration strategies.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Williams blasted Zayn with a spinning heel kick, but Priest entered the ring and hit him with a flatliner.
    Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
  • Read more Now that opening-day speeches and start-of-session ceremonies are out of the way, the Colorado legislature’s work is beginning to spin up in earnest.
    The Denver Post, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Turn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turn. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on turn

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!