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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5
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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

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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
An avant-garde sightseeing bus turns Hollywood into a stage, drawing locals for a mash-up of state history, gothic storytelling and public-intellectual riffing on the broken California dream. Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2026 Jace, Daemon’s daughter Baela (Bethany Antonia) and their dragons join the Battle of the Gullet, which is turning into full-scale carnage. Jordan Moreau, Variety, 22 June 2026
Noun
After the broadcast of the trophy presentation ended on TV, the celebration spilled into a hallway underneath the grandstands, where players and coaches took turns waiting in line for their official picture with the trophy. Andrew Greif, NBC news, 20 June 2026 This results in an improved power-to-weight ratio, which in-turn increases tactical mobility. Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 20 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for turn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turn
Verb
  • Keep a core of year-round basics, then rotate a few season-specific pieces in and out as the weather turns.
    Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 19 June 2026
  • Researchers from the University of Technology Sydney found that rotating and restacking layers of hBN can significantly alter the color and wavelength of light emitted by quantum emitters embedded within the material.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • The pendulum never really swung away from maximizing shareholder value.
    Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
  • The turnover swung the momentum in Minnesota’s favor.
    Jordan Puente, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • The final point is that markets often deviate from rewarding the long-term drivers of stock performance, like valuation and quality, which makes sticking with a winning formula very difficult.
    Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
  • The one state that deviated from this was Kentucky, which chose red velvet as its favorite cake.
    Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • Restricting the key waterway, which is crucial to the world's oil supply and has become one of the main points of negotiation in the war, comes amid continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon, according to Iran's top military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central ‌Headquarters.
    Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 21 June 2026
  • The 6-foot-4 forward became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 1,000 career rebounds, doing so in her 79th game, 10 games faster than Tina Charles.
    Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 June 2026
Verb
  • And for those who don't own a home — or who prefer not to borrow against it — personal loans can provide a more affordable alternative to revolving credit card debt, particularly for borrowers with strong credit.
    Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 18 June 2026
  • Instead of getting a lump sum, a HELOC offers a revolving line of credit that can be used as needed during a borrowing period, usually five to 10 years.
    Kevin Cerveny, Kansas City Star, 15 June 2026
Verb
  • Even the most technology-savvy leaders are still pondering and probing where the ceiling is in terms of containing agent sprawl and complexity.
    Joe McKendrick, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
  • Any larger Hollywood studio would have likely insisted on a grander finale, but The Death of Robin Hood, produced by A24, left me pondering the foolishness of my need for such a denouement.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • From there, the workup depends on what a doctor finds.
    Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 25 June 2026
  • In some states, Powerball tickets can be bought online depending on local jurisdiction.
    Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • The most common way to enrich uranium is by spinning uranium gas in a centrifuge, where lighter U-235 separates from the heavier U-238.
    Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2026
  • In fact, some are doing little to hide their skepticism – and, in some cases, outright frustration – with the memorandum of understanding, which White House officials hope to spin into a more lasting peace agreement and nuclear accord.
    Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 20 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Turn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turn. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.

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