turn 1 of 2

verb

ˈtərn How to pronounce turn (audio)
Definition of turnnext
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

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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

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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

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to revolve
to move in circles around an axis or center the wheels turned, but the car was hopelessly stuck and wasn't moving

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6
as in to ponder
to give serious and careful thought to turned the question every which way but could find no answer

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

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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

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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

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turn

2 of 2

noun

1
as in walk
a relaxed journey on foot for exercise or pleasure would you care to take a turn around the garden?

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2
as in kindness
an act of kind assistance one good turn deserves another

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in tendency
a habitual attraction to some activity or thing an adventurous turn of mind that led him toward more physical activities like biking and skateboarding

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4
as in bend
something that curves or is curved right after this turn in the road you'll find the antiques shop on the right

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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

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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

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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
Birkenstock is celebrating a major milestone this year as its beloved Boston clog turns 50. — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 17 July 2026 Symptoms arise within the first six months, and children with this type are expected to die before turning 2. — Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026
Noun
Portions of the road through unincorporated Lemon HIll, South Oak Park and North and South City Farms have four traffic lanes, a central turn lane and bike lanes without buffers separating bicyclists from traffic. — Madison Smalstig july 16, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2026 When another golfer’s wife goes through a sudden breakup, Stacy’s attempt to comfort her takes a strange turn. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for turn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turn
  1. rotate
  2. swing
  3. deviate
  4. become
  5. revolve
  6. ponder
  7. depend
  8. spin
Verb
  • These often more concerning sprains result from twisting or outward rotating your foot.
    — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
  • Atlanta, to no one’s surprise, remains entrenched in the mix of rotating CFP sites.
    — Mike Griffith, AJC.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of rotate
Verb
  • Three tries in a seven-minute span, including two when Australian fullback Tom Wright was on the sidelines for a yellow card, swung momentum fully in favor of the back-to-back Six Nations champions.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 July 2026
  • Chip stocks — once the hottest corner of the market — also swung sharply as investors continued to question whether the AI trade had become overextended.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 11 July 2026
Definition of swing
Verb
  • Subaru redesigns its midsize SUV without deviating from winning formula.
    — Charles Singh, USA Today, 15 July 2026
  • Her full-length works often feature people, especially women, holding their ground and deviating from societal expectations, which creates dissonance between their internal and external worlds.
    — Sky Davis, Christian Science Monitor, 13 July 2026
Definition of deviate
Verb
  • Building regional hub The announcement follows Wisconsin’s passage of Act 165 earlier this year, becoming the first standalone state law in the United States to exempt capital expenditures on fusion energy projects from state sales tax.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 July 2026
  • Be vigilant about never leaving young children and pets in vehicles without supervision, especially during periods of intense heat, as car interiors can quickly become extremely hot.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2026
Definition of become
Verb
  • Charlotte’s newest revolving sushi bar is poised to open later this week.
    — Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 16 July 2026
  • Still, most gravitate toward the main pool, where the Delano's social scene has revolved for decades.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 July 2026
Definition of revolve
Verb
  • The central theme was the figurative — and literal — significance of passing the ball, including asking audience members to ponder what their passing game is like and the ramifications of being a ball hog.
    — Vahe Gregorian July 10, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026
  • Other states could soon follow — including New York, which is pondering a similar bill — in a domino effect that could completely derail the automaker’s current trajectory.
    — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 9 July 2026
Definition of ponder
Verb
  • An inconclusive ballistics result is not uncommon, as the analysis depends on the size and condition of the bullet fragments recovered.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • The state’s nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office expects the measure to bring in between $5 billion and $15 billion annually, depending on how the stock market is performing, with the amount expected to grow over time.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of depend
Verb
  • In a move first reported by The Athletic, Philadelphia initially reached out to Paul when Gansey and general manager Jameer Nelson spun the trade that brought Jaylen Brown to the Sixers from the Boston Celtics.
    — Tony Jones, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • Their powerful magnetic fields channel beams of radiation from their magnetic poles that sweep across space as the stars spin, much like the beam of a lighthouse.
    — Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 14 July 2026
Definition of spin

Phrases Containing turn

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turmoils
turn
turnabout
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Cite this Entry

“Turn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turn. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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