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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in swings
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
3
4
5
as in revolves
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
6
as in ponders
to give serious and careful thought to
turned the question every which way but could find no answer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
8
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in walks
a relaxed journey on foot for exercise or pleasure
would you care to take a turn around the garden?
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in services
an act of kind assistance
one good turn deserves another
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in tendencies
a habitual attraction to some activity or thing
an adventurous turn of mind that led him toward more physical activities like biking and skateboarding
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in bends
something that curves or is curved
right after this turn in the road you'll find the antiques shop on the right
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Recent Examples of turns
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
The heat domes tend to form where the jet stream turns northward, moving up and over the dome itself and leading to strong flows of hot air from the south to the north near the Earth’s surface.
—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
1 July 2026
As for the volunteers, the goal is simple—help someone stay safe before the heat turns into an emergency.
—
Marissa Sulek,
CBS News,
1 July 2026
As the nation turns 250 years old, USA TODAY decided to create a time capsule, not of items but of dreams Americans hold for our country’s future.
—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
30 June 2026
The days are still sweltering, but dusk comes early and sharp, and the air turns suddenly cold.
—
Meghan O’Gieblyn,
Harpers Magazine,
30 June 2026
As the Judgment of Paris turns 50, winemaker Kristy Melton opens Freemark Abbey’s archives, pours historic bottles and reflects on what nearly 140 years of unbroken Napa history still has to say.
—
Jill Barth,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Hallowed Halls turns your home into a stately Victorian manor, complete with spooky portraits, eerie black-and-gold decor, and even a few séance essentials.
—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 June 2026
If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.
—
Kansas City Star Weather Bot,
Kansas City Star,
25 June 2026
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
30 June 2026
Along with many people who queued for turns, posing for a photo opportunity in front of the large strawberry were Connie Grant of Buffalo Grove and Dave Charewicz of Park Ridge.
—
Karie Angell Luc,
Chicago Tribune,
29 June 2026
The other guys will take their turns at the microphone, no differently than if this were just another meeting of the Broward County Republican Executive Committee.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
26 June 2026
Edward Norton's journey with 1999's Fight Club took some major twists and turns.
—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
26 June 2026
Johnson’s career at Apple, Target and JCPenney was filled with big wins, risk-taking, dramatic lows, problem-solving and some sharp turns.
—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
26 June 2026
Engineers must find a balance compromise in terms of car setup because of the mix of low- and high-speed turns.
—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
26 June 2026
Texts, screen grabs, recordings and other records recovered from a search of Rinderknecht’s cellphones and presented in court portrayed a man who was by turns lonely and livid, angry at billionaires and ex-romantic partners while seemingly scared about his own declining mental health.
—
Brittny Mejia,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2026
On a loose downhill section or a trail with sudden turns, stronger and more consistent braking can make the bike feel more predictable for the rider.
—
New Atlas,
23 June 2026
Verb
As America turns 250, the semiquincentennial feels like a dud — a far cry from 1976’s bicentennial blowout, when pop culture and communal celebrations united a weary nation.
—
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
The heat domes tend to form where the jet stream turns northward, moving up and over the dome itself and leading to strong flows of hot air from the south to the north near the Earth’s surface.
—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
1 July 2026
As for the volunteers, the goal is simple—help someone stay safe before the heat turns into an emergency.
—
Marissa Sulek,
CBS News,
1 July 2026
As the nation turns 250 years old, USA TODAY decided to create a time capsule, not of items but of dreams Americans hold for our country’s future.
—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
30 June 2026
The days are still sweltering, but dusk comes early and sharp, and the air turns suddenly cold.
—
Meghan O’Gieblyn,
Harpers Magazine,
30 June 2026
As the Judgment of Paris turns 50, winemaker Kristy Melton opens Freemark Abbey’s archives, pours historic bottles and reflects on what nearly 140 years of unbroken Napa history still has to say.
—
Jill Barth,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Hallowed Halls turns your home into a stately Victorian manor, complete with spooky portraits, eerie black-and-gold decor, and even a few séance essentials.
—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 June 2026
If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.
—
Kansas City Star Weather Bot,
Kansas City Star,
25 June 2026
Noun
But Paraguay held its nerve during the sudden death round and is advancing after all the twists and turns!
—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
30 June 2026
Along with many people who queued for turns, posing for a photo opportunity in front of the large strawberry were Connie Grant of Buffalo Grove and Dave Charewicz of Park Ridge.
—
Karie Angell Luc,
Chicago Tribune,
29 June 2026
The other guys will take their turns at the microphone, no differently than if this were just another meeting of the Broward County Republican Executive Committee.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
26 June 2026
Edward Norton's journey with 1999's Fight Club took some major twists and turns.
—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
26 June 2026
Johnson’s career at Apple, Target and JCPenney was filled with big wins, risk-taking, dramatic lows, problem-solving and some sharp turns.
—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
26 June 2026
Engineers must find a balance compromise in terms of car setup because of the mix of low- and high-speed turns.
—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
26 June 2026
Texts, screen grabs, recordings and other records recovered from a search of Rinderknecht’s cellphones and presented in court portrayed a man who was by turns lonely and livid, angry at billionaires and ex-romantic partners while seemingly scared about his own declining mental health.
—
Brittny Mejia,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2026
On a loose downhill section or a trail with sudden turns, stronger and more consistent braking can make the bike feel more predictable for the rider.
—
New Atlas,
23 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turns
Verb
-
The ride currently holds the record for the largest zero-G stall in America — an inversion that takes riders uphill, rotates them 180 degrees upside down, and hovers above ground for a weightless airtime moment before returning upright.
-
At Taste Buds Kitchen, the 5-day summer camp runs 3 hours each morning and rotates through recipes including brownies, pies, pasta and garlic knots.
Verb
-
Smarter, Not Larger The conversation around AI often swings between extremes.
-
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.
Verb
-
The Washington Post spoke to seven current and former National Park Service staffers who said the policy deviates from the agency’s long-standing approach to release as much information as possible.
-
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.
Verb
-
If the sky becomes menacing and thunder becomes audible, seek out a safe place to seek shelter.
-
When this happens, the city becomes the landlord, and the tax base the landlords were contributing to stops coming.
Verb
-
But the movie revolves, of course, around the guys planning and executing their labyrinthine heist.
-
That happens simply because Earth revolves, but the planets also move across the sky, further complicating things.
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.
-
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.
Verb
-
From there, the workup depends on what a doctor finds.
-
The results showed that under specific conditions, the generation of free electric charges in the active layer of the solar cell depends heavily on the electric field in the organic semiconductor material.
Verb
-
Many Chicagoans will, of course, take a while to arrive at that level of trust when that wheel spins alone.
-
Xavier Watts spins a football in his right hand and glues his eyes on the tablet resting in the hands of Jessie Bates III.
Cite this Entry
“Turns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turns. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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