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
IEEE Spectrum, 7 May 2026
The retailer’s latest edit turns the spotlight on Leset, the beloved label known for its effortlessly cool wardrobe staples.
—Irina Grechko, Vogue, 7 May 2026
The story begins with a live, on-air announcement that turns a terminal illness into a national spectacle.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 7 May 2026
With the Kansas City Chiefs through their annual rookie minicamp, the team now turns its attention to phase two of the offseason — and eventually phase three.
—Pete Sweeney
may 7, Kansas City Star, 7 May 2026
Sunday Every Sunday in spring and early summer, the Old Sacramento Waterfront turns K Street into a free, open-air market.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 6 May 2026
That turns the chatbot from a substitute for care into something that augments the therapeutic alliance between you and your care team.
—Sudheesha Perera, Time, 6 May 2026
After word gets out that Frank Capra plans to see a matinee performance, a series of comedic twists and turns determines the fate of whether the two thespians achieve their acting ambitions.
—Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
Not Casino Friend turns his phone off and finally faces me.
—Kiese Laymon, Vanity Fair, 30 Apr. 2026
Chris Willman, Variety, 7 May 2026
Its policy rhetoric has taken dozens of twists and turns.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 6 May 2026
During the party, get everyone excited about taking turns hosting.
—Colleen Sullivan, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 May 2026
But head coach Kenny Atkinson navigated several sharp turns along the way.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 5 May 2026
As the Colorado ski season comes to a close, a pair of high country resorts are still squeezing in some final turns.
—Spencer Wilson, CBS News, 4 May 2026
Twain was by turns amused and appalled by the histrionics that taint our tellings of history, and by the yawning gaps between myth and reality.
—Sebastian Smee, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
In one version of the game, guests took turns squatting to grab a paper bag or box with their teeth.
—Lily Hautau, CNN Money, 3 May 2026
More turns, or back and forth between teacher and child, indicate a child is engaged in the discussion.
—Michael Cuglietta, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
With the highest peaks running in a chain along the east side of the island, Sardinia resolutely turns its back to the mainland.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 May 2026
The retailer’s latest edit turns the spotlight on Leset, the beloved label known for its effortlessly cool wardrobe staples.
—Irina Grechko, Vogue, 7 May 2026
The story begins with a live, on-air announcement that turns a terminal illness into a national spectacle.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 7 May 2026
With the Kansas City Chiefs through their annual rookie minicamp, the team now turns its attention to phase two of the offseason — and eventually phase three.
—Pete Sweeney
may 7, Kansas City Star, 7 May 2026
Sunday Every Sunday in spring and early summer, the Old Sacramento Waterfront turns K Street into a free, open-air market.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 6 May 2026
That turns the chatbot from a substitute for care into something that augments the therapeutic alliance between you and your care team.
—Sudheesha Perera, Time, 6 May 2026
After word gets out that Frank Capra plans to see a matinee performance, a series of comedic twists and turns determines the fate of whether the two thespians achieve their acting ambitions.
—Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
Not Casino Friend turns his phone off and finally faces me.
—Kiese Laymon, Vanity Fair, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
The main musical attractions were the B-52s, Devo, Danny Elfman and Puddles Pity Party, taking turns fronting a 10-piece big band led by Mark Mothersbaugh — and with Fred Armisen on drums — that nimbly navigated between exotica and some fairly fierce garage-rock.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 7 May 2026
Its policy rhetoric has taken dozens of twists and turns.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 6 May 2026
During the party, get everyone excited about taking turns hosting.
—Colleen Sullivan, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 May 2026
But head coach Kenny Atkinson navigated several sharp turns along the way.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 5 May 2026
As the Colorado ski season comes to a close, a pair of high country resorts are still squeezing in some final turns.
—Spencer Wilson, CBS News, 4 May 2026
Twain was by turns amused and appalled by the histrionics that taint our tellings of history, and by the yawning gaps between myth and reality.
—Sebastian Smee, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
In one version of the game, guests took turns squatting to grab a paper bag or box with their teeth.
—Lily Hautau, CNN Money, 3 May 2026
More turns, or back and forth between teacher and child, indicate a child is engaged in the discussion.
—Michael Cuglietta, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turns
Verb
-
Others welcomed the update, noting that Costco frequently rotates items on its food court menu depending on demand and availability.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026
-
The tumbler’s leakproof lid also rotates for three comfortable sipping positions.—
Sian Babish,
PEOPLE,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
Anything less, though, swings the door open for Spurs to clinch survival at Stamford Bridge.—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
-
When Kenobi surrenders and Vader swings his blade through Kenobi’s chest, Kenobi disappears.—
Mike Ryan,
IndieWire,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Piker’s endorsement of Mills deviates from other progressives who have thrown their support behind Platner.—
Sydney Topf,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Apr. 2026
-
But then the dream deviates, and takes me to the set of Gilligan’s Island, where Bob Denver, who originally played the part of Gilligan, has been replaced by a bearded intellectual who looks like Karl Marx combined with Cesar Romero, who played the Joker on the original Batman TV show.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This is a moment where co-parenting becomes something more.—
Jann Blackstone,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2026
-
According to a letter sent by the Dutch foreign and health ministers to parliament late Friday, Spain has activated the EU civil protection mechanism for a medical evacuation plane equipped for infectious diseases to be on standby in case anyone on the ship becomes ill.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
The moving drama revolves on a young boy, the film’s titular character, who escapes the bombing of his southern Iranian village in which his family is killed.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
1 May 2026
-
When the stage revolves late in the play to display Susan’s opulent digs the pale shades of whites and golds almost hurt our eyes.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
While Heinrich ponders the misfiring neurons in the brain of a mass shooter, Jack’s pursuit of Mink—a character whose skin color and ambiguous ethnicity Jack remarks on repeatedly—leads him directly into the urban teeth of the War on Drugs.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
To source that special blend, the state depends on in-state refineries or importing fuel refined to that standard from abroad.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
6 May 2026
-
The challenge is compounded by the fact that much of the government’s evaluation effort depends on cooperation from the same companies building the models.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
The arrests of nine people on the bridge — along with two rally organizers a couple days earlier — capped a two-month operation to track down dirt bike and ATV riders suspected of traveling in packs for sideshows and spins across the Bay Area, said Oakland police Chief Jim Beere.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
4 May 2026
-
From May to November, Saturday Night Lights brings show jumping under the lights, with knock-out rounds, live music, and a family-friendly carnival atmosphere of pony rides, hobby horsing, face painting, and carousel spins.—
Belinda Luksic,
Southern Living,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Turns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turns. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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