Synonyms of turning

turning 1 of 2

adjective

as in turned

Related Words

• turned
• twisting
• twisted
• warped
• swirled
• rounded
• veering
• entwined
• bending
• winding
• spiral
• kinked
• curved
• twined
• spiraling
• bowed
• curving
• curled
• twining
• curling
• coiling
• looping
• wavy
• coiled
• looped
• weaving
• corkscrew
• serpentine
• sinuous
• meandering
• zigzag
• devious
• zigzagging
• crooked

Dissimilar Words

• direct
• straight
• right
• linear
• straightforward
• straightaway
• unswerving
• untwisted
• uncurled
• undeviating
• unbent

turning

2 of 2

verb

present participle of turn

1

as in rotating

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

• rotating
• spinning
• twisting
• twirling
• swinging
• swirling
• rolling
• swiveling
• whirling
• revolving
• pivoting
• wheeling
• screwing
• winding
• cranking
• unscrewing
• reeling
• circulating
• coiling
• twiddling

2

as in swinging

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

• swinging
• whipping
• shifting
• diverting
• veering
• deflecting
• redirecting
• moving
• whirling
• wheeling
• switching
• twisting
• swiveling
• deviating
• averting
• shunting
• reversing
• transferring
• zigzagging
• swaying
• curving
• swerving
• bending
• rechanneling
• sidetracking
• turning back

3

as in deviating

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

• deviating
• swinging
• veering
• diverging
• detouring
• swerving
• turning off
• wheeling
• tacking
• zigzagging
• sheering
• turning back
• doubling (back)

4

as in becoming

to eventually have as a state or quality

will turn 12 in six months

Synonyms & Similar Words

• becoming
• growing
• getting
• going
• coming
• running
• transforming
• changing
• altering
• waxing
• modifying
• transmuting
• metamorphosing
• mutating
• transfiguring

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• being
• remaining
• continuing
• staying
• lingering
• abiding

5

as in revolving

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

• rotating
• revolving
• spinning
• rolling
• twirling
• circling
• curling
• whirling
• gyrating
• curving
• pirouetting
• twisting
• winding
• swirling
• wheeling
• pinwheeling
• spiraling
• coiling
• rounding
• ringing
• pivoting
• twining
• circulating
• encircling
• orbiting
• swiveling

6

as in contemplating

to give serious and careful thought to

turned the question every which way but could find no answer

Synonyms & Similar Words

• contemplating
• pondering
• debating
• considering
• studying
• entertaining
• weighing
• eyeing
• exploring
• questioning
• analyzing
• reviewing
• deliberating
• ruminating
• revolving
• looking at
• cogitating
• meditating
• wrestling (with)
• thinking (about or over)
• chewing on
• mulling (over)
• poring (over)
• perpending
• chewing over
• digesting
• reflecting (on or upon)
• beating one's brains out (about)
• kicking around
• believing
• reminiscing
• cudgeling one's brains (about)
• reasoning
• musing (upon)
• opining
• absorbing
• assimilating
• concluding
• dwelling (on or upon)
• conceiving
• fixating (on or upon)
• speculating (about)
• brooding (about or over)
• drinking (in)
• fretting (about or over)
• obsessing (about or over)
• second-guessing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignoring
• disregarding
• overlooking
• dismissing
• rejecting
• slighting
• pooh-poohing

7

as in depending

to be determined by, based on, or subject (to)

what we do next turns on your answer to the following question

Synonyms & Similar Words

• depending
• hanging
• hinging
• riding
• basing
• establishing
• resting
• staying
• founding
• grounding

8

as in spinning

to be in a confused state as if from being twirled around

all the new information made his head turn

Synonyms & Similar Words

• spinning
• swimming
• whirling
• reeling
• swirling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• collecting
• settling
• calming
• steadying

9

as in persuading

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

• persuading
• convincing
• biasing
• influencing
• prejudicing
• disposing
• inclining
• poisoning
• predisposing
• suggesting
• prepossessing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of turning

Verb

No analytics can project how Johnson’s emphasis on turning the page will affect the team’s chances in 2026. — Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

As such, the candidates who have practical ideas for turning the economy around and exhibit empathy for Americans worried about how to pay their bills could receive the bulk of the union vote. — The Conversation, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2026

Investigators say Santos was barred from trading on his own attendance but still placed large bets and issued misleading social media posts aimed at moving prices, turning a $17,839 profit. — Larry Neumeister, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026

Look for handmade kids furniture, colorful vintage rugs, unique wall art, and all manner of head-turning decor at every possible price point. — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 31 Aug. 2026

Birdsall had already sketched the initial design before turning the project over for fine-tuning to another friend, automotive designer Albrecht Goertz, who had just set up his New York studio. — Howard Walker, Robb Report, 31 Aug. 2026

Read on to see which pizza stones and pizza steels will work best at turning your home oven into a pizza-making machine. — Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026

Grill, covered, until husks are charred and kernels are tender and browned in spots, 15 to 18 minutes, turning occasionally. — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 30 Aug. 2026

Those driving east on Northwest 14th Street can turn right on Third Avenue, then turn left on 13th Street before turning left again on First Place to connect with Northwest 14th Street. — Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing turning

• turning point