as in attacking
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
1
as in thrilling
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 triggering
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 turning (on)
Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 14 Jan. 2026
Far from turning on her, the audience awards her with a head-spinning third applause break in just 50 seconds.
—John Roy, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2026
For example, Sokolowski recommends turning on your bathroom exhaust fan or cracking open a window in the bathroom when someone is taking a shower.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 13 Jan. 2026
Maybe the tide is turning on her feelings for him.
—Trish Deitch, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
The 38-year-old woman now held at Sacramento County Main Jail, allegedly struck her husband with a vacuum cord before turning on her 10-year-old, beating the child with a metal pole.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2025
The game could be categorized as a slugfest that showed both teams matching punch for punch, with Bishop Feehan (3-1) turning on the gas late and pulling away for the victory.
—Erik Anderson, Boston Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
These cost-efficient facilities can come online more quickly, one at a time, while construction goes on, turning on revenue streams faster, Sabel said.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 25 Sep. 2025
Prioritize visibility Enhance your visibility in heavy rain by turning on your headlights.
—Southern California Weather Report, Oc Register, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
Kay, of course, is referencing Whitney turning on Jonah by ousting him from his own company.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 14 Jan. 2026
Far from turning on her, the audience awards her with a head-spinning third applause break in just 50 seconds.
—John Roy, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2026
For example, Sokolowski recommends turning on your bathroom exhaust fan or cracking open a window in the bathroom when someone is taking a shower.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 13 Jan. 2026
Maybe the tide is turning on her feelings for him.
—Trish Deitch, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
The 38-year-old woman now held at Sacramento County Main Jail, allegedly struck her husband with a vacuum cord before turning on her 10-year-old, beating the child with a metal pole.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2025
The game could be categorized as a slugfest that showed both teams matching punch for punch, with Bishop Feehan (3-1) turning on the gas late and pulling away for the victory.
—Erik Anderson, Boston Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
These cost-efficient facilities can come online more quickly, one at a time, while construction goes on, turning on revenue streams faster, Sabel said.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 25 Sep. 2025
Prioritize visibility Enhance your visibility in heavy rain by turning on your headlights.
—Southern California Weather Report, Oc Register, 12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Turning (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turning%20%28on%29. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
