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

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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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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

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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

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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
The shutdown has turned peak fall into a stress test for public lands. Monica Sanders, Forbes.com, 21 Oct. 2025 This season, these players, this staff — there’s an edge, sponsored by the Gators’ porous start and a hope to turn things around, despite facing three top-17 opponents in the coming weeks. Noah White, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
While sharing the news with her boyfriend of two years, things took an unexpected turn. Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025 With that being said, a new report has surfaced that could see Rodgers' future with the Steelers take a major turn. Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for turn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turn
Verb
  • Students rotate between roles from time to time and clean the whole campus as a team every single day.
    MSNBC Newsweek, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
  • These jets can begin to fan out as the nucleus of the comet rotates.
    Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Parsons signed a multiyear extension upon arrival and has already produced game‑changing pressure and splash plays that helped swing the second half in Pittsburgh, giving the Packers a top-tier pass rush to pair with Love’s ascending offense.
    Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
  • When not in use, the flaps swing open, allowing the soldier to listen normally.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Anomalies are things that deviate from what is normal and expected.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Etminan’s editing routine also deviated from his standard practice.
    Hugh Hart, IndieWire, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The nine runs scored in the dominant inning by the Blue Jays became the most runs scored by a team in any World Series inning in 57 years.
    Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Frankie first became a sports writer in 1991 at the Log Cabin Democrat in Conway and has served in the past as sports editor at the Siloam Springs Herald Leader and the Benton County Daily Record in Bentonville.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The county, where per-capita personal income levels are nearly 40% higher than the national median, is also seen as a pioneer for its financing model, which created a revolving loan fund to replace private sources of equity and keep the units owned by the public.
    Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Beyond supernatural encounters, the Beaux-Arts hotel is also a glittering grande dame of the French Quarter, with a revolving carousel bar, pristine marble floors, and a wooden grandfather clock that’s chimed in the lobby since 1909.
    Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Athletic’s Mike Jones recently wondered if Miami had to go on a postseason run to save McDaniel’s job, and CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz pondered during the Chiefs-Raiders game whether there would soon be news out of Miami.
    Zac Jackson, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Charles Lee pondered his answer for a split second.
    Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Given the fluidity of the game, teams will often shape shift depending on the sequence being played — although perhaps not quite as frequently as Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has previously suggested.
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
  • The former offers maximum leverage of 40-times for bitcoin and 25-times for ether, while Aster offers as much as 1,001x leverage, depending on the token.
    Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Still, markets will be closely watching the details of the ultimate agreement, after nearly a year of head-spinning changes to trade and tariff policies between the US and China.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
  • The event will feature charrería performances featuring rope tricks by charro Christian Navarrete; a Mexican tin art workshop; spinning and weaving demonstrations; and hands-on activities and games for children.
    Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 26 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Turn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turn. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

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