turning over

verb

present participle of turn over
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

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2
as in leaving
to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another turned the evidence over to the police

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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

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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

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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 Kushner said the utility had cooperated with the investigation, turning over data and making PG&E staff available for interviews. — Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026 La Roja then lacks quality and intent, opting instead for little flicks around corners that result in turning over possession. — Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 10 July 2026 Beginning in the mid-1990s, Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear agency, helped build the facility, subsequently administering it for years before turning over control to the Iranian regime. — Ilan Berman, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 The Department of Justice sued Maryland and several other states for not turning over private voter rolls, which include personal information for millions of Maryland voters. — Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 22 June 2026 Since the alliance of unions ratified their new contracts, both labor and Kaiser executives have signaled interest in turning over a new leaf. — Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 10 June 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turning over
  1. relinquishing
  2. leaving
  3. overturning
  4. flipping
  5. rendering
  6. handing
  7. capsizing
  8. reversing
Verb
  • While relinquishing the lead that night, Chapman tied Wilhelm’s record.
    — Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 4 July 2026
  • But for Iran, reopening the strait does not mean relinquishing control of it.
    — Xiaoqian Lin, CNN Money, 29 June 2026
Definition of relinquishing
Verb
  • Be vigilant about never leaving young children and pets in vehicles without supervision, especially during periods of intense heat, as car interiors can quickly become extremely hot.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2026
  • Yet almost 90% of new money is chasing AI giants such as Anthropic and OpenAI, leaving non-AI startups and smaller funds squeezed as the pipeline of initial public offerings narrows to a few blockbuster bets.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
Definition of leaving
Verb
  • The players were aware of popular sentiment against overturning the call.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
  • Earlier this year, Zeldin proposed overturning the landmark finding that climate change is a threat to human health.
    — Ali Swenson, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2026
Definition of overturning
Verb
  • In polling Platner’s campaign conducted Tuesday to see which possible replacement candidate has the best chance of flipping the Senate seat in November, Jackson performed best, according to Politico.
    — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 8 July 2026
  • In the end, Seattle outmaneuvered and outbodied the Sparks, snatching steals and flipping the ball around the perimeter until the Storm fired off a shot.
    — Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Definition of flipping
Verb
  • Australia’s online platforms are stumbling at the very first step in implementing age checks for users, rendering a world-first teen social media ban ineffective, a study by a team that advised the government’s rollout of the curbs found.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 7 July 2026
  • These extreme weather changes can cause pavement to expand, crack and warp, rendering some roads unusable until they are repaired.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 7 July 2026
Definition of rendering
Verb
  • Golden State finished with a season-high 15 steals after handing Atlanta back-to-back losses to start the Dream's 0-4 road trip.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026
  • Voice assistants already complete purchases and arrange food deliveries, without handing control back to the user.
    — Alex Gudilko, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of handing
Verb
  • The Frontex patrol boat sank off the tiny Greek island of Kastellorizo after capsizing, the coast guard said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026
  • Operators of another boat happened to be on the phone with the Coast Guard checking conditions in the inlet and reported the vessel, the Moonstruck, capsizing, according to The Coastland Times.
    — Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
Definition of capsizing
Verb
  • Citi forecasts that single-family housing starts will increase 3% to 955,000 in 2027, reversing two straight years of declines.
    — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 10 July 2026
  • The effect results in the typical east-to-west trade winds weakening or even sometimes reversing, allowing warmer water from the western Pacific to move eastward.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Definition of reversing

Browse Nearby Words

turning out
turning over
turning point
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Cite this Entry

“Turning over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turning%20over. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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