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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Recent Examples of turns
Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
In recent years, the club has struggled out the gates before warming up as the weather turns.
—Kansas City Star, 19 Feb. 2026
With the help of heavy whipping cream and parmesan, fresh corn turns into a delicious, creamy pasta sauce for this dinnertime recipe.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 19 Feb. 2026
Her lecture on Orlando, Virginia Woolf’s fantastical 1928 novel about an English nobleman who turns into a woman halfway through his centuries-long life, is a showstopper.
—Manuel Mendoza, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
Luciane Buchanan starred in seasons 1 and 2 as Rose, a tech wiz who is first rescued by titular night agent Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso), and quickly turns into his partner.
—Ashley Boucher, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Feb. 2026
By the fifth song, the album turns melancholic.
—Bryan West, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026
Leavitt turns the tables on media outrage as FBI seizes Fulton election documents.
—FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Zubac, who turns 29 next month, has been viewed as the player with the most value in the trade.
—Janis Carr, Oc Register, 5 Feb. 2026
Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 18 Feb. 2026
And then there's the descent, rife with dicey turns at high speed.
—Rob Marciano, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
Cooperative games like Uno, Go Fish, Sorry, or Chutes and Ladders help kids practice taking turns and tolerating frustration in a low-stakes environment.
—Lauryn Higgins, Parents, 17 Feb. 2026
Over the ensuing decades, Duvall had numerous other memorable turns as tough guys, gruff mentors and men seeking redemption.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 16 Feb. 2026
As the group was coming around one of the first turns, Kim, Handei and Eybog all crashed.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Avoid sudden braking or acceleration, and be especially cautious on hills or when making turns.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Where military service is compulsory, and may only disappoint our best or even worst men, but can be interrupted, thank god, by life’s hairpin turns.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Feb. 2026
To keep the hairpin turns and runaway carousel rides to a minimum, Dietrich, his chief lieutenant, Josh Belovsky, and assistants Ryan Day and Tony Schifano — the latter joining the staff this year — hit the recruiting trail and transfer portal hard.
—Brian Robin, Oc Register, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
Rai, who turns 31 on March 3, has eight wins since turning pro in 2012, including the Wyndham Championship in 2024.
—Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
In recent years, the club has struggled out the gates before warming up as the weather turns.
—Kansas City Star, 19 Feb. 2026
With the help of heavy whipping cream and parmesan, fresh corn turns into a delicious, creamy pasta sauce for this dinnertime recipe.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 19 Feb. 2026
Her lecture on Orlando, Virginia Woolf’s fantastical 1928 novel about an English nobleman who turns into a woman halfway through his centuries-long life, is a showstopper.
—Manuel Mendoza, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
Luciane Buchanan starred in seasons 1 and 2 as Rose, a tech wiz who is first rescued by titular night agent Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso), and quickly turns into his partner.
—Ashley Boucher, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Feb. 2026
By the fifth song, the album turns melancholic.
—Bryan West, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026
Leavitt turns the tables on media outrage as FBI seizes Fulton election documents.
—FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Zubac, who turns 29 next month, has been viewed as the player with the most value in the trade.
—Janis Carr, Oc Register, 5 Feb. 2026
Noun
The journey winds through sweeping turns before plunging into a dramatic 910-degree double helix that spirals into a mine shaft, delivering both heart-pounding excitement and breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 18 Feb. 2026
And then there's the descent, rife with dicey turns at high speed.
—Rob Marciano, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
Cooperative games like Uno, Go Fish, Sorry, or Chutes and Ladders help kids practice taking turns and tolerating frustration in a low-stakes environment.
—Lauryn Higgins, Parents, 17 Feb. 2026
Over the ensuing decades, Duvall had numerous other memorable turns as tough guys, gruff mentors and men seeking redemption.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 16 Feb. 2026
As the group was coming around one of the first turns, Kim, Handei and Eybog all crashed.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Avoid sudden braking or acceleration, and be especially cautious on hills or when making turns.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Where military service is compulsory, and may only disappoint our best or even worst men, but can be interrupted, thank god, by life’s hairpin turns.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Feb. 2026
To keep the hairpin turns and runaway carousel rides to a minimum, Dietrich, his chief lieutenant, Josh Belovsky, and assistants Ryan Day and Tony Schifano — the latter joining the staff this year — hit the recruiting trail and transfer portal hard.
—Brian Robin, Oc Register, 11 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turns
Verb
-
The award-winning restaurant chain serves up made-to-order breakfast, brunch, and lunch, with a menu that rotates five times a year to highlight ingredients at their peak.—
Abigail Wilt,
Southern Living,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Once installed, every pull of the chain rotates a circular drum displaying the numbers zero through three.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
One thing that has always bothered me is that the fridge sits in the back left corner of the hall-like kitchen, but the door swings open to the right.—
Natalia Gonzalez Blanco Serrano,
The Spruce,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Couvent is cultivating its own scene in the south of France, one that swings more Provence than Cote d’Azur.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The duo particularly split over the showrunner’s plan for season three which deviates from Martin’s source material in ways that Condal has suggested were pragmatic and necessary.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Feb. 2026
-
This nail look deviates from the classic saccharine pinks associated with Valentine's Day and uses a cool-toned berry shade.—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Designers caution against using these materials in high-traffic living areas, where wear becomes quickly visible.—
Angelika Pokovba,
Martha Stewart,
15 Feb. 2026
-
When your breath becomes shallow or chronically upper-chest-oriented, rib movement diminishes further.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
The vases also reflect his perspective that design should slow down and allow consumers to hold onto items for longer than the fashion cycle typically revolves today.—
Sarah Jones,
Footwear News,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Expect a meditative film that ponders big issues with a poet-like touch.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
20 Jan. 2026
-
While Raspadori ponders whether to accept Roma’s offer and leave Atletico just six months after his move to Spain from Napoli, Gasperini has to make do-and-mend.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Besides the reluctance of many people to share their own DNA profile for investigations, the success rate also depends on people’s willingness to have their DNA catalogued at all.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Public relations depends on judgment exercised under scrutiny.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The dining space spills into the lounge, where stylish skiers in designer suits and fur hats gather for a light lunch by the modern fireplaces as a DJ spins into the afternoon.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The rippled, frill-like edges are seen on the lateral and medial side panels of the shoe across three neutral earth tone spins on the 204L in Sea Salt/Linen (style code U204L2SZ), Lone Star Gray/Sea Salt (style code U204L5AV) and Reflection/Truffle Salt (style code U204L6A6).—
Riley Jones,
Footwear News,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Turns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turns. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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