1
as in relinquishing
to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress
reluctantly turned the ship over to the first mate while he went below to try to stop the leak
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in leaving
to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another
turned the evidence over to the police
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in turning turtle
to turn on one's side or upside down
don't try to tell me the bucket turned over all by itself
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in flipping
to change the position of (an object) so that the opposite side or end is showing
would you mind turning the picture over so I can see if the backing needs to be replaced
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 over
The 30 year old allegedly went through the facility's south TSA security checkpoint without turning over any of his baggage, according to the allegations read by presiding judge Latrevia Kates-Johnson during Oloruntoba's bond hearing on Tuesday.
—
Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
What was His message in turning over the tables, besides showing His rudeness?
—John Kenney, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2026
Ted Soqui / Pool via Getty Images Prosecutors noted that protocol prevents them from turning over the sensitive images, but that defense attorneys can view the data at a clean computer in the justice center.
—Madeline Morrison, NBC news, 23 Apr. 2026
The complex project rolled on, the state turning over $61 million of the subsidy in May 2025 to cover dozens of pending property sales and demolitions.
—CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Those leases were expiring, and the families could not afford to renew them, so Villanueva helped exhume the bodies, turning over the bones to a forensic pathologist who examined the remains and kept records for future use.
—Sheila Coronel, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
All of which is to say, Morgan needs to keep turning over stones.
—Joseph Person, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Val Chmerkovskiy reveals diagnosis BPPV causes brief periods of dizziness and is often set off by changes in the head's position, like lying down, turning over or sitting up in bed, according to the Mayo Clinic.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
The Panthers then went on a 16-7 run to pull ahead by a dozen, before MC stopped turning over the ball and trimmed the deficit at the half to 34-28.
—Justin Barrasso, Boston Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
What was His message in turning over the tables, besides showing His rudeness?
—John Kenney, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2026
Ted Soqui / Pool via Getty Images Prosecutors noted that protocol prevents them from turning over the sensitive images, but that defense attorneys can view the data at a clean computer in the justice center.
—Madeline Morrison, NBC news, 23 Apr. 2026
The complex project rolled on, the state turning over $61 million of the subsidy in May 2025 to cover dozens of pending property sales and demolitions.
—CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Those leases were expiring, and the families could not afford to renew them, so Villanueva helped exhume the bodies, turning over the bones to a forensic pathologist who examined the remains and kept records for future use.
—Sheila Coronel, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
All of which is to say, Morgan needs to keep turning over stones.
—Joseph Person, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Val Chmerkovskiy reveals diagnosis BPPV causes brief periods of dizziness and is often set off by changes in the head's position, like lying down, turning over or sitting up in bed, according to the Mayo Clinic.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
The Panthers then went on a 16-7 run to pull ahead by a dozen, before MC stopped turning over the ball and trimmed the deficit at the half to 34-28.
—Justin Barrasso, Boston Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turning over
Verb
-
Consumers are intrigued by convenience, but at the same time clearly uneasy about relinquishing control.—
Jacques Ledbetter,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
Iranian media have emphasized that reopening the waterway to shipping does not mean Tehran is relinquishing its wartime claims over the strategic chokepoint.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
My father was running the skid steer outside, clearing the snow, leaving dirty white mounds to either side of the driveway that led from the house out to the range road.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
Consequently, rising inflation has steadily eroded real purchasing power, leaving 59 percent of Americans without sufficient savings to absorb a minor financial shock, such as a $1,000 emergency.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
The best Survivor 50 moment has to be Devens in his pure boyhood joy flipping MrBeast's coin.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 June 2026
-
Kean is one of dozens of House Republicans Democrats are targeting in hopes of flipping control of the chamber.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
The r on my laptop keyboard, worn to breaking, will soon fall off, rendering that laptop lifeless.—
Wyatt Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
26 May 2026
-
Of course, that club won the World Series, rendering Crane’s silence a footnote in a superb season.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
Nye stopped short of handing a full victory to Boise.—
Darin Oswald,
Idaho Statesman,
3 June 2026
-
First, tax cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act generated larger-than-usual refunds earlier this year, effectively handing consumers a cash cushion just as income was weakening.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson disagreed with the court overturning Murdaugh's convictions.—
Christine Pelisek,
PEOPLE,
1 June 2026
-
What has happened is that SpaceX is the first of a growing number of companies that are overturning and replacing the business models that have dominated the space sector since the beginning.—
David Szondy
May 31,
New Atlas,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Washington can play at least a small role in reversing negative health trends by providing services to those who may otherwise be unable to afford and access health care or food.—
Sam Raus,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 May 2026
-
Four years later, an overwhelming majority of California voters approved Proposition 36, reversing a 2014 change that had commuted some nonviolent felonies to misdemeanors.—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
With Houser turning in his shortest outing of the season, Vitello leaned on left-hander Sam Hentges (1 1/3 innings), JT Brubaker (one inning) and Ryan Borucki (two innings) to all chip in an inning apiece.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
31 May 2026
-
The No Country For Old Men Oscar winner, who earlier spoke about genocide, repression and the political tide turning in Hollywood, then went more macro.—
Tom Tapp,
Deadline,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Turning over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turning%20over. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
