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

Real-world experience with alternative fuels in commercial shipping Achieving lower-emission logistics requires turning new technologies into practical, scalable solutions. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026

The Vikings erupted for 21 fourth-quarter points, turning what had looked like a rout into a one-possession game. — D’joumbarey Moreau, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2026

Clemons had served as the founding CEO of both ConnCAT and ConnCORP, turning them into hubs for economic and community revitalization that aimed to center the experiences and needs of residents in New Haven’s Dixwell and Newhallville neighborhoods. — P.r. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026

But Rattler fumbled right before crossing the goal line, turning the ball over. — Joel Beers, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026

The property spans nearly seven acres in Richmond’s Old Deer Park, next to Kew Gardens, and property developer Robbie Brothers spent several years turning the former scientific building into a home, completing the main restoration in 2018. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2026

Clemson's Tait Reynolds wasn't much better, throwing for 108 yards and turning the ball over twice in his second start. — ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026

Turning Connected Data Into Action Healthcare has made progress connecting data and systems, but the bigger opportunity is turning that intelligence into action. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026

At a news conference held inside the cafe at the Cross Creek Golf Club in Atlanta, Thune pushed back against the idea that the party was abandoning its Senate prospects in Georgia and turning its attention — and money — to other battleground states. — Riley Bunch, AJC.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing turning

• turning point