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
The decision turns less on predicting the next Fed meeting and more on projecting a company’s earning power far into the future. Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025 Maria is a wonderfully textured character, at turns flinty and cold and vivacious and funny, and Maura is adept at embodying all sides to this woman. Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 13 Sep. 2025 Forty years after Spinal Tap, history’s most hapless band turns it up to 11 one last time. James Parker, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025 If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter. Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 12 Sep. 2025 But her special day turns sour when family disagreements about her future take center stage. Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025 One of the standout additions is heart rate sensing, which turns the AirPods into another health-tracking accessory in Apple's ecosystem. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 11 Sep. 2025 Ligament tears happen when the foot turns too far inward or outward, also known as inversion (inward) or eversion (outward) injuries. Mark Gurarie, Health, 11 Sep. 2025 However, a third gang member shows up, and Peaches (as well as the couple) are shot to death in a burglary that quickly turns into a homicidal scene with multiple bodies. Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
The Pure Country soundtrack, which arrived in 1992, spent 129 turns somewhere on the 200-spot roster. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025 The case has seen several dramatic turns. Bryan West, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025 The road to becoming a nurse in California has been paved with roadblocks, sharp turns and bottlenecks. Betty Limon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025 Each missile in turns costs millions of dollars (for example, approximately $1 million to $2 million for a Kalibr cruise missile) and increases Russia’s need for fossil-fuel exports and capital. Jeremy Shapiro, The Atlantic, 10 Sep. 2025 This refusal to take itself too seriously helps to insulate some of The Girlfriend‘s craziest turns. Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025 The ensemble includes memorable turns from Katy O’Brian as Christy’s friend and formal rival, Lisa Holewyne and Merritt Wever as Christy’s cold mother. Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025 Alas, the mystery woman from the wedding in turns get the jump on Tony! Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 4 Sep. 2025 Both tender and unflinching, Christy is a celebration of persistence, humor, and humanity in the face of unexpected turns. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turns
Verb
  • The United States holds the G20’s presidency in 2026 — a position that rotates among the 19 countries and the European Union, which make up the group.
    Emily Goodin, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
  • In contrast, the team’s innovative solution rotates the printing platform, allowing powder to be deposited and fused continuously.
    Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Why Regeneration, Not Reinvention Whenever HR is critiqued, the pendulum swings toward reinvention.
    Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • With Venice the fall’s first awards season launchpad, eyes will be keenly trained on how the jury swings tonight.
    Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The Uncut Gems star's ensemble deviates from his signature style, which typically includes oversize T-shirts, hoodies and shorts, as well as stylish sneakers.
    Charna Flam, People.com, 28 Aug. 2025
  • The Act’s control over owners and clubs also deviates substantially from American practices and is chilling to investment.
    Chris Deubert, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Nothing about disabled people should be created without disabled people and this principle becomes even more critical when dealing with AI systems that can perpetuate or challenge existing biases.
    Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • That’s going to wear thin quickly because the friendship becomes unbalanced and remains so.
    R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Sorrentino’s script cleverly ponders the difference between the truth absorbed up close and the law, which is viewed from a distance.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2025
  • This is hard science fiction that ponders monumental questions about loyalty, technology and who (or what) deserves to survive.
    Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 6 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The severity of a sprain depends on how much of a ligament is torn.
    Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Seeing rings depends on the angle of their orbit, which can miss the star completely.
    Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Venus spins very slowly on its axis, and one day there is equivalent to 116 Earth days, or nearly four months.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
  • An inner radiative zone (makes up 70 percent of the Sun by radius), where energy flows smoothly and the whole region spins together like a solid ball, and the outer convective zone (the remaining 30 percent), where hot gases swirl chaotically and spin at different speeds depending on location.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • However, Garraty runs back and convinces his friend to walk a little further with him before taking advantage of McVries' distracted state to do what McVries had planned to do for him.
    Megan McCluskey, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Freire examines the conditioning that convinces people of the good, or at least the utility, of specific socioeconomic arrangements.
    The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 10 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Turns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turns. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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