turns 1 of 2

Definition of turnsnext
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
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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
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2
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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
Only one thing visually turns me off—the XRT PRO badge on the back. Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 12 Mar. 2026 Scallops, for example, come cured in a chilli, annatto and coconut cream, and tiramisu turns an Instagrammable shade of violet with blueberries and purple yam. The Week Uk, TheWeek, 12 Mar. 2026 Against the lo-fi electronica of Yummy Bear (a version of Montell Fish’s DJ Gummy Bear), the evening turns disastrous, but something breaks open between Beck and Paul. Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 12 Mar. 2026 What begins as a simple lie turns into a complex charade to sustain for months before a hopeful husband and family. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 12 Mar. 2026 But Shraya turns the lens onto herself as well. Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026 The winter wonderland turns nightmarish after a car explosion, which Beabadoobee walks through unbothered. Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 12 Mar. 2026 If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 12 Mar. 2026 Austin, who turns 25 in May, spent parts of the past three seasons with New England. David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026
Noun
Small ships like this one remain one of the most effective—and intimate—ways of accessing the twists and turns of the Amazon Basin, allowing vessels to moor in remote riverine communities and forests. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Mar. 2026 The standard rear-axle steering with a seven-degree lock angle shrinks the curb-to-curb turning circle to just 35 feet—comparable to the compact CLA sedan—while the more direct front-axle steering ratio means fewer turns of the wheel to execute a full U-turn. Sean Evans, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2026 This gives beginners a much more forgiving platform while still letting experienced riders crank into aggressive, sharp turns. Omar Kardoudi march 11, New Atlas, 11 Mar. 2026 And the nuances between those turns and between those paint strokes and the actual artistry of it all. Outside Online, 11 Mar. 2026 Each of these technological turns produced complaints and concerns that bear a similarity to things being said about AI today. Adam Ozimek, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026 After six years back and forth in the courts, former The Newsroom writer John Musero’s suit against Creative Artists Agency over the alleged poaching of his Main Justice pilot script has taken a couple more dramatic turns and alleged blacklists on its way to trial this coming October. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 10 Mar. 2026 Often described as motocross on snow, snocross is full of tight turns, high speeds, jumps, and obstacles. Jonathan Carone, Parents, 3 Mar. 2026 The road course in Austin was a particular concern but of the physical strain through the left and right turns. Jim Vertuno, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turns
Verb
  • The collar rotates 360 degrees and uses a thumb screw to set it and lock it into place.
    Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 5 Mar. 2026
  • Every star and constellation rises in the east and sets in the west because Earth rotates west to east on its axis.
    Vahe Peroomian, The Conversation, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The next big weather maker swings through the area on Tuesday, causing the chance of severe weather.
    Lauren Bostwick, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
  • While the materiality swings largely, from resin to beech, the consistency of the tones gives an orderly look to the home which is very important for small spaces.
    Giada Storelli, Architectural Digest, 7 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The director's take deviates from Shelley's in its emphasis on forgiveness.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026
  • Bernthal tells me that Guirgis’s take on Dog Day Afternoon deviates from the film in key ways, such as fleshing out some of the more minor characters, including the bank staff, and going deeper on Sonny and Sal’s dynamic.
    Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • If the fog becomes more widespread, a Dense Fog Advisory may be needed.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 9 Mar. 2026
  • Build rhythm, and your energy becomes truly dependable.
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 8 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The song revolves slowly, casting loop against deepening loop, asking for the same careful quality of attention as William Basinski or Stars of the Lid.
    Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 10 Mar. 2026
  • His latest work, which is set, and shot, in a remote Turkish mountain village, revolves on a land dispute rooted in the conflict over rights for Turkey’s Kurdish minority.
    Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 15 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Meanwhile, Derek’s mother-in-law visits, and Paul ponders his legacy.
    Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2026
  • Expect a meditative film that ponders big issues with a poet-like touch.
    Randy Myers, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Regulatory hurdles could slow deployment, and the long-term success of microgrids likely depends on whether their power sources are both reliable and sustainable.
    April Roach,Gaelle Legrand, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Service for products on the vintage list depends on spare parts availability, whereas Apple does not provide hardware service or parts for products on the obsolete list.
    Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Even as Riley’s high-concept, allegorical sci-fi spins wildly out of control, especially around a teleportation device that’s somehow both under- and overexplained, the three actors ground a dizzying, entertaining acid trip that plays all the way to the back of the room.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 12 Mar. 2026
  • This spins Salley out all over again.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Turns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turns. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.

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