turn 1 of 2

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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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

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noun

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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
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
That mission, in turn, helped launch Sundance satellite events in cities around the world, such as London and Hong Kong. Justin Chang, New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2026 What makes a cell turn cancerous is probably a lot of factors. Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 31 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for turn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turn
Verb
  • The modular roof bars rotate 90 degrees to become proper crossbars when needed, while the alloy wheels are subtly recessed to sit within the line of the tyre, helping avoid scrapes from inevitable encounters with kerbs or rocks.
    Fergus Scholes, TheWeek, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Roast in a preheated oven until extra crispy and browned, rotating baking sheet halfway through roasting time, about 20 minutes.
    Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • After the automatic front doors swing guests into the lobby, an ironwork chandelier, olive-green velour curtains, and a humming fireplace dress the Hotel Chelsea in a confidently maximalist wardrobe.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Bend your knees slightly and swing the kettlebell back between your legs.
    RikkiLynn Shields Hannigan, Health, 29 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
  • Water from the Yamuna – considered sacred and worshipped by millions – has become so polluted by ammonia from industrial waste that water plants have been unable to treat it.
    Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026
  • In Dallas, the cultural shift has given rise to a booming resale market that has quickly become one of the city's most dynamic retail segments -- and that rise is expected to continue.
    Mari Sato The Dallas Morning News, Arkansas Online, 1 Feb. 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
  • The robots respond differently depending on how researchers actuate them.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Solopreneurship may be the default way of starting a business, but survival increasingly depends on how effectively founders use AI.
    Alison Coleman, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The facility outside the city of Isfahan was mainly known for producing the uranium gas that is fed into centrifuges to be spun and purified.
    Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
  • Recently, scientists discovered the fastest-spinning large asteroid in the solar system.
    January 31, NPR, 31 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Turn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turn. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.

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