Synonyms of turn

turn 1 of 2

verb

ˈtərn 

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

• rotate
• spin
• swing
• twirl
• twist
• swirl
• roll
• swivel
• pivot
• revolve
• whirl
• wheel
• screw
• crank
• wind
• unscrew
• reel
• circulate
• twiddle
• coil

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

• swing
• whip
• divert
• shift
• veer
• deflect
• redirect
• move
• wheel
• switch
• whirl
• deviate
• avert
• swivel
• twist
• shunt
• curve
• reverse
• swerve
• sway
• transfer
• bend
• turn back
• rechannel
• sidetrack
• zigzag

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

• deviate
• swing
• veer
• diverge
• wheel
• detour
• turn off
• sheer
• swerve
• tack
• turn back
• double (back)
• zigzag

4

as in to become

to eventually have as a state or quality

will turn 12 in six months

Synonyms & Similar Words

• become
• get
• grow
• go
• come
• run
• transform
• change
• alter
• wax
• modify
• transmute
• mutate
• metamorphose
• transfigure

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• be
• continue
• remain
• stay
• linger
• abide

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rotate
• revolve
• spin
• twirl
• roll
• curl
• whirl
• curve
• circle
• wheel
• gyrate
• swirl
• pirouette
• round
• twist
• pinwheel
• spiral
• wind
• coil
• ring
• pivot
• circulate
• encircle
• swivel
• orbit
• twine

6

as in to ponder

to give serious and careful thought to

turned the question every which way but could find no answer

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ponder
• contemplate
• entertain
• debate
• consider
• study
• weigh
• eye
• explore
• look at
• analyze
• question
• chew on
• review
• revolve
• ruminate
• deliberate
• meditate
• wrestle (with)
• cogitate
• mull (over)
• chew over
• think (about or over)
• pore (over)
• perpend
• kick around
• reflect (on or upon)
• beat one's brains out (about)
• digest
• cudgel one's brains (about)
• muse (upon)
• reminisce
• believe
• reason
• dwell (on or upon)
• fixate (on or upon)
• conclude
• speculate (about)
• absorb
• drink (in)
• opine
• conceive
• assimilate
• brood (about or over)
• fret (about or over)
• second-guess
• obsess (about or over)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignore
• slight
• disregard
• overlook
• reject
• dismiss
• pooh-pooh

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

• depend
• hang
• base
• found
• ride
• hinge
• establish
• rest
• stay
• ground

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

• spin
• swim
• reel
• whirl
• swirl

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• collect
• settle
• steady
• calm

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

• persuade
• convince
• bias
• influence
• prejudice
• predispose
• dispose
• poison
• incline
• suggest
• prepossess

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?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• walk
• stroll
• wander
• saunter
• trip
• ramble
• constitutional
• amble
• tour
• parade
• march
• range
• travel
• trek
• hike
• traverse
• spin
• promenade
• perambulation
• expedition
• excursion
• progress
• tramp
• jaunt
• traipse
• traversal
• sally
• outing
• pilgrimage
• sashay
• paseo
• walkabout
• junket
• peregrination
• safari

2

as in kindness

an act of kind assistance

one good turn deserves another

Synonyms & Similar Words

• kindness
• service
• privilege
• mercy
• grace
• favor
• blessing
• indulgence
• courtesy
• advantage
• benefit
• boon
• benevolence
• waiver
• dispensation
• liberty
• godsend
• license
• manna

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• interference
• obstacle
• hindrance
• impediment
• hurdle

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tendency
• inclination
• devices
• aptitude
• affinity
• affection
• knack
• impulse
• bent
• disposition
• predisposition
• propensity
• proclivity
• predilection
• bias
• penchant
• leaning
• talent
• addiction
• bone
• gift
• genius
• preference
• partiality
• appetite
• flair
• habitude
• taste
• like
• prejudice
• favor
• liking
• wont
• habit
• way
• endowment
• practice
• partisanship
• trick
• faculty
• fancy
• pattern
• fondness
• forte
• specialty
• routine
• speciality
• quirk
• custom
• convention
• singularity
• peculiarity
• idiosyncrasy
• kink
• one-sidedness
• eccentricity
• oddity

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dislike
• distaste
• aversion
• allergy
• disinclination
• neutrality
• disfavor
• detachment
• objectivity
• indifference
• impartiality
• disliking
• disrelish
• averseness
• apathy
• nonchalance
• unconcern
• disinterestedness
• insouciance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bend
• curve
• curvature
• angle
• wind
• bow
• fold
• crook
• arc
• arch
• slope
• corner
• curl
• twist
• inflection
• winding
• ring
• round
• loop
• circle
• coil
• swirl
• warp
• spiral
• reflection
• incline
• buckle
• inclination
• kink
• turnoff
• hairpin
• flexure
• convolution
• ringlet
• curlicue
• decline
• incurvature
• dogleg

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

• bout
• case
• attack
• spell
• seizure
• access
• fit
• siege
• pang
• spasm
• relapse
• recurrence
• breakdown
• frenzy
• collapse
• convulsion
• agitation
• brainstorm
• paroxysm
• eclampsia
• throe
• prostration

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• relief
• arrest
• remission

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

• act
• routine
• number
• bit
• shtick
• signature

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of turn

Verb

Opponents said that earlier ordinance, which allowed home sizes to more than double to 3,000 square feet, threatened to turn the island into Georgia’s next coastal development hot spot. — Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 8 Aug. 2026

The Smith family have owned it ever since, and in 2006 Maggie turned it into the hotel that stands today. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026

Noun

New assistant coach Alice Chilton is a blatant remodeling of Roy Kent — a brusque ex-soccer player who’s reluctant to engage with Ted’s tomfoolery or personal prodding — but Tanya Reynolds’ performance is equal turns wounded and witty. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 5 Aug. 2026

Each, in a way, gets to be up close to the gears that make the real world turn. — Peter C. Baker, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing turn

• at every turn
• to a turn
• turn (on)
• turn (to)
• turn a hand
• turn away
• turn back
• turn color
• turn down
• turn in
• turn loose
• turn off
• turn on
• turn one's back on
• turn one's hand
• turn one's stomach
• turn out
• turn over
• turn tail
• turn turtle
• turn up