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
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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
Yahya Abou-Ghazala, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
Copenhagen Fashion Week turns 20 this year.
—Amy O’Brien, Vogue, 30 Jan. 2026
As the schedule moves into the final third of the Games, the focus turns toward technical mastery and aerial excellence.
—Sam Leveridge, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The memoir turns instead into a broad and essentially familiar discourse about ambition as a route out of challenging family circumstances; the pursuit of conventional success leading to alienation; the frequent clash between career and parenthood.
—Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026
Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin, alongside Sandia National Laboratories, have designed this method that turns a single, cheap liquid into a material chameleon.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026
The fourth-generation Honda Pilot turns four this year, making now the ideal time for a facelift—particularly in one of the most crowded automotive categories, the midsize, three-row SUV.
—Adam Ismail, The Drive, 29 Jan. 2026
Golden State’s future picks could be extra attractive to Milwaukee if the Bucks expect the Warriors to fall off when Curry, who turns 38 in March, eventually retires.
—Michael Nowels, Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2026
Additional pre-tax contributions of up to $5,000 a year are allowed but not required, and a parent is the custodian of the account until the child turns 18.
—Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Sam Leveridge, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The Chilean musician channels the spirit of classic perreo on a reggaeton album shaped by sleek hooks and guided by the twists and turns of battle rap.
—Tomás Gauna, Pitchfork, 28 Jan. 2026
Greenberg also said motorists should make wider turns and continue driving slow, even if a road looks clear.
—Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 27 Jan. 2026
During the Battles, the coach with the most three-chair turns will be awarded a Super Steal, a power that can be used once and overrides the other coaches' attempts.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 26 Jan. 2026
The road to Val d’Anniviers is notoriously challenging, a dizzying staircase of hairpin turns beneath steel nets designed to catch falling rocks like the one that had landed in front of us.
—Ben Ryder Howe, Air Mail, 24 Jan. 2026
Avoid sudden braking or acceleration, and be especially cautious on hills or when making turns.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
Avoid sudden braking or acceleration, and be especially cautious on hills or when making turns.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 Jan. 2026
The four guards took their respective turns providing a spark to the Oklahoma State offense.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Jan. 2026
Verb
That officer then turns his attention to the group of officers trying to restrain Pretti.
—Yahya Abou-Ghazala, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
Copenhagen Fashion Week turns 20 this year.
—Amy O’Brien, Vogue, 30 Jan. 2026
As the schedule moves into the final third of the Games, the focus turns toward technical mastery and aerial excellence.
—Sam Leveridge, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The memoir turns instead into a broad and essentially familiar discourse about ambition as a route out of challenging family circumstances; the pursuit of conventional success leading to alienation; the frequent clash between career and parenthood.
—Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026
Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin, alongside Sandia National Laboratories, have designed this method that turns a single, cheap liquid into a material chameleon.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026
The fourth-generation Honda Pilot turns four this year, making now the ideal time for a facelift—particularly in one of the most crowded automotive categories, the midsize, three-row SUV.
—Adam Ismail, The Drive, 29 Jan. 2026
Golden State’s future picks could be extra attractive to Milwaukee if the Bucks expect the Warriors to fall off when Curry, who turns 38 in March, eventually retires.
—Michael Nowels, Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2026
Additional pre-tax contributions of up to $5,000 a year are allowed but not required, and a parent is the custodian of the account until the child turns 18.
—Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
The Short-Track Speed Skating 1500m final, often a highlight for its intensity and adrenaline-inducing turns, will take place on February 12.
—Sam Leveridge, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The Chilean musician channels the spirit of classic perreo on a reggaeton album shaped by sleek hooks and guided by the twists and turns of battle rap.
—Tomás Gauna, Pitchfork, 28 Jan. 2026
Greenberg also said motorists should make wider turns and continue driving slow, even if a road looks clear.
—Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 27 Jan. 2026
During the Battles, the coach with the most three-chair turns will be awarded a Super Steal, a power that can be used once and overrides the other coaches' attempts.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 26 Jan. 2026
The road to Val d’Anniviers is notoriously challenging, a dizzying staircase of hairpin turns beneath steel nets designed to catch falling rocks like the one that had landed in front of us.
—Ben Ryder Howe, Air Mail, 24 Jan. 2026
Avoid sudden braking or acceleration, and be especially cautious on hills or when making turns.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
Avoid sudden braking or acceleration, and be especially cautious on hills or when making turns.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 Jan. 2026
The four guards took their respective turns providing a spark to the Oklahoma State offense.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turns
Verb
-
The skater actually rotates four and a half times, in less than a second.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
1 Feb. 2026
-
The digital display automatically rotates when the heater is used horizontally, a small but thoughtful touch for its dual-orientation concept.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When Bz points north, Earth’s field resists it; when Bz swings south, the two fields connect, allowing plasma to stream in.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
At 21 seconds, the person filming the video drives past the confrontation, and the camera swings to the other side of the street as someone in the car yells profanities.—
Kif Leswing,Terri Cullen,
CNBC,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Panthers goaltending coach Robb Tallas maps out the goaltenders’ schedule for the season well in advance and rarely deviates from that plan.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The episode delivers a surprising twist involving Thalia that deviates from Rick Riordan’s original mythology and sets up a grim reality for Percy as a looming war against Kronos approaches in Season 3.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Provide support and structure, and excellence becomes possible again.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 Feb. 2026
-
By linking engine development with airport operations early, the partners aim to reduce barriers to entry when the technology becomes commercially available.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Writer-director Annemarie Jacir takes on her largest-scale production to date with Palestine 36, a panoramic drama that interweaves period re-creations with evocative archival footage and revolves among characters both fictional and historical.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Nov. 2025
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
-
Solopreneurship may be the default way of starting a business, but survival increasingly depends on how effectively founders use AI.—
Alison Coleman,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Coaxing those green shoots to sprout depends on the type of seed's temperature, light, and moisture requirements.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That’s when Hughes stops abruptly, spins away from the challenger while still solidly in possession of the puck and heads back toward the blue line to find either open ice or a teammate who is in position to shoot.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Varied scenes include a video of smokestacks in the unmistakable soft light of a Beijing winter, the artist puffing cigarettes as a Lazy Susan spins leisurely with dishes and a bottle of Nongfu Spring, a local mineral water brand; and a robot getting out of an elevator.—
Stephy Chung,
CNN Money,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Turns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turns. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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