turn (on) 1 of 3

verb (1)

Definition of turn (on)next
as in to attack
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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

turn-on

2 of 3

noun

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

turn on

3 of 3

verb (2)

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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for turn (on)
  1. attack
  2. lure
  3. thrill
  4. trigger
  5. assault
  6. temptation
  7. excite
  8. activate
Verb
  • New arrival Maghnes Akliouche adds another attacking option this summer, while the signing of Lucas Digne from Villa gives this particular fixture an early subplot, with the full-back facing his old club straight out of the gate.
    — Dean Jones, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The woman was in the Silver River in Marion County, just south of Gainesville, when she was attacked on the arm on Saturday, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said.
    — Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of attack
Noun
  • The Caribbean is a region almost purpose-built for cruising—closely set islands that offer immense diversity in culture and history, each with their own siren lure.
    — Scott Laird, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The city’s 3-to-1 imbalance of jobs to housing is one of the biggest in the country and a lure for builders, said apartment developer Chris Tourtellotte.
    — Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of lure
Verb
  • In speaking with folks who live here, they are thrilled the city is now getting involved but are hesitant to claim any kind of victory just yet.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Villa sources were thrilled for a teenager who had become a hugely popular figure around the club and seemingly now among supporters.
    — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of thrill
Verb
  • The findings provide fresh insight into how closely human behavior influences the Earth’s subtle seismic signals, while also helping to dispel the long-standing myth that eclipses can trigger earthquakes.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The annual monsoon season frequently triggers flooding in Assam, where swollen rivers inundate large areas and displace thousands of residents each year.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of trigger
Verb
  • Police say the victim courageously fought for her life and escaped to the breezeway of the apartment, screaming for help as Reyes continued to assault her.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • In addition to the federal investigations, Mills has been accused of misrepresenting his military record, engaging in unethical business dealings, assaulting a girlfriend and stalking an ex-girlfriend.
    — Annie Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of assault
Noun
  • And the temptation to compromise on fit in favor of speed is real.
    — Jonathan Weeks, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • But my citizenship, synonymous with quality and power, sat there like a taunt and a temptation.
    — Karan Mahajan, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of temptation
Verb
  • Newcomer Bazoumana Toure has also excited with his pace and crossing ability, so may force his way in on the left.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Ask what excites them, share your vision, and choose one clear next step together.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of excite
Verb
  • Compliant Technologies says the devices function as a normal pair of patrol gloves until officers press a switch to activate their electrical mode.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The attacker on the other side of the keyboard would likely be able to activate the mechanisms in the credential management app to log in to a site or download all the passwords.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of activate
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.

Browse Nearby Words

turnoffs
turn (on)
turn-on
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Turn (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turn%20%28on%29. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of vacuous

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All