Synonyms of turn
-
as in to rotate 
-
as in to swing
-
as in to deviate
-
as in to become
-
as in to revolve
-
as in to ponder
-
as in to depend
-
as in to spin
-
as in to persuade
-
as in to assault
-
as in to go (to)
-
as in to thrill
-
as in to trigger
-
as in walk
-
as in kindness
-
as in tendency
-
as in bend
-
as in bout
-
as in act
-
as in lure
-
Example Sentences
-
Phrases Containing
-
Entries Near
1
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
3
4
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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
8
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
2
as in kindness
an act of kind assistance
one good turn deserves another
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to assault
to take sudden, violent action against
it is dangerous to keep tigers as house pets, as they often turn on their masters without warning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to go (to)
to use or seek out as a source of aid, relief, or advantage
no need to turn to violence when we can talk things out peacefully
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in lure
something that persuades one to perform an action for pleasure or gain
knew the offer of free pizza would be a major turn-on to the pair of teenagers she had just asked to help her move
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to thrill
to cause a pleasurable stimulation of the feelings
unsurprisingly, the fanboys were turned on by the movie's amazing special effects and slam-bang plot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to trigger
to cause to function
would you turn on the TV?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 22 June 2025
Fans looked to Beecham for an escape, for unique basketball insight, and often, younger fans looked up to him as a fan turned content creator who transformed his passion into his career.
—Vitas Carosella, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025
Erica Stern
june 9, Literary Hub, 9 June 2025
Things took a severe turn during her second season, not only with viewers at home, but among the cast.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for turn
Verb
By 1913 Henry Ford’s moving-belt assembly line cut build time to 93 minutes, and cheap Texas oil kept the tank full, turning personal mobility from luxury to the default setting.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 22 June 2025
Fans looked to Beecham for an escape, for unique basketball insight, and often, younger fans looked up to him as a fan turned content creator who transformed his passion into his career.
—Vitas Carosella, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025
Noun
This in turn derives from the root obstare, to stand across, as in the position of a midwife vis à vis her patient, and also evokes physical obstacle, something that must be surmounted, gotten around.
—Erica Stern
june 9, Literary Hub, 9 June 2025
Things took a severe turn during her second season, not only with viewers at home, but among the cast.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for turn
Cite this Entry
“Turn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turn. Accessed 26 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share