turns 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of turn
1
as in rotates
to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis turned the doorknob as quietly as possible

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Relevance
2
3
as in deviates
to change one's course or direction we turned left at the light the storm unexpectedly turned south and missed our area

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4
5
6
7
as in depends
to be determined by, based on, or subject (to) what we do next turns on your answer to the following question

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8
as in spins
to be in a confused state as if from being twirled around all the new information made his head turn

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9
as in convinces
to cause to have often negative opinions formed without sufficient knowledge he did his best to turn his new friends against his ex-wife

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turns

2 of 2

noun

plural of turn
1
2
3
4
5
as in bouts
a sudden experiencing of a physical or mental disorder a sudden turn of dizziness that may have been brought on by a change in her medication

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6
as in acts
a performance regularly presented by an individual or group between the show's two major musical acts, there was a short turn by a juggling troupe

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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 turns
Verb
Keep a core of year-round basics, then rotate a few season-specific pieces in and out as the weather turns. Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 19 June 2026 The Free the Youth x Air Jordan 16 turns the shoe’s hallmark shroud into a component for choosing your own adventure. Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 18 June 2026 Over time, this builds resilience, upskills employees and turns vacation coverage into development, not disruption. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026 Continuous three-bureau credit monitoring may alert you to new accounts as they are reported, rather than weeks later when a lender turns you down or a collections notice arrives. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026 Messi, who turns 39 next week, tied Miroslav Klose as the top scorer at a men’s World Cup with 16 goals and became the first player to score in five consecutive World Cups. Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 18 June 2026 Nelson turns 35 nine days later. Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 18 June 2026 Your adaptable nature turns small moments into quick bridges, while gentle humor lightens heavier topics so plans move forward together. Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 11 June 2026 But, unsurprisingly, what begins as an exciting experiment turns into an emotional powder keg. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 11 June 2026
Noun
Richie Laryea would rib other players during their turns before giving a maximum effort with the headset on. Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 17 June 2026 Both secretaries’ preferences have also been floated at various turns by OpenAI and Anthropic. Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 17 June 2026 The show is captivating and heart-racing, with unpredictable twists and turns. Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 17 June 2026 There are no sharp turns or pop experiments here, just the satisfaction of Stones-y comfort food. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2026 Give everyone a chance to ogle the views by taking turns driving, and don’t miss any opportunity to pull over for the stunning vistas of Banff National Park. Rebecca Deurlein, Travel + Leisure, 17 June 2026 The chance encounter highlights how police work can take unexpected turns, even during assignments unrelated to violent crime. Cbs News Philadelphia Staff, CBS News, 15 June 2026 Drivers could notice new street designs that slow traffic, change turns or shift parking. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2026 The 73-foot-tall Giant Dipper at Belmont Park reaches a top speed of 55 mph over a 2,600-foot-long track featuring twisting drops and banked turns. Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 15 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turns
Verb
  • The top rotates to move with the wind instead of blowing over, and it’s made of anti-rust stainless steel for durability outdoors.
    Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 21 June 2026
  • Rather than a small drawer or tray, the divided top of West Elm’s storage coffee table rotates to reveal an empty storage cavity to fill with throw blankets, books, or video game controllers.
    Rachel Fletcher, Architectural Digest, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • Smarter, Not Larger The conversation around AI often swings between extremes.
    Scott Byrne, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
  • Toward the beginning of the episode, the group sits down to eat at a hole-in-the-wall barbecue spot and the camera swings around the table in a sweeping circular motion, capturing everyone laughing, bonding and sharing a meal.
    Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • Extra padding on the tongue and collar blow up the proportions of the silhouette, while a suede, mesh and leather upper deviates from the typical leather build.
    Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 16 June 2026
  • That precedent deviates from the Fed major mandates and today is actually dangerous.
    Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 31 May 2026
Verb
  • Rebalancing becomes a priority as the Libra moon coordinates with Venus.
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 22 June 2026
  • The Hawks will have to wait a couple of weeks before the deal becomes official.
    Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • But the movie revolves, of course, around the guys planning and executing their labyrinthine heist.
    Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026
  • That happens simply because Earth revolves, but the planets also move across the sky, further complicating things.
    Jamie Carter, Space.com, 15 May 2026
Verb
  • Vieira ponders the dilemma from his own perspective as a coach, having had spells in charge at New York City, Nice, Crystal Palace, Strasbourg and Genoa.
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 15 June 2026
  • As coach John Hynes ponders his Game 1 starter, the recent numbers will show that Wallstedt has allowed a total of four goals in his final two regular-season starts, while veteran Filip Gustavsson has been touched for 10 in the same span.
    Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • But getting Canada to sell medications to Colorado depends on supply.
    Alan Gionet, CBS News, 17 June 2026
  • That translation also depends on practical supply chain experience, including familiarity with how operational decisions are made, where implementation challenges can arise, and how model outputs are communicated across operations and finance teams.
    Karen Koehler, Charlotte Observer, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • Contributing Travel Editor Andrew Sessa spins the globe — and trots around it, too — to bring CNT the latest and greatest news and notes from destinations far and wide.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 June 2026
  • Its entire frame spins multiple times like an Olympic figure skater before finally crashing down on the pavement behind the car.
    Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 18 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Turns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turns. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.

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