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
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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
If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 10 Nov. 2025 And in the fall, when the air turns crisp and the fields turn orange, this unassuming little town reminds visitors that sometimes, the most unique places grow from the simplest seeds (pun intended). Karthika Gupta, Travel + Leisure, 9 Nov. 2025 Before dropping, foliage turns orange, red, burgundy, and purple. Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025 And turns and pushes [the ship]. Gerrad Hall, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Nov. 2025 Is there a universe in which Jennifer Lawrence grows up and turns into Charlize Theron? Tim Grierson, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2025 Cultural storytelling builds awareness; engagement sustains relevance, and strategic digital integration turns influence into sales. Li Jun, Footwear News, 2 Nov. 2025 Season 28 has delivered a fresh lineup of coaches, resulting in more thrilling chair turns, buzzer battles, and some powerhouse performances along the way, according to NBC Insider. Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025 Some evergreens, like arborvitae, yew, hemlock, and boxwood, are also more susceptible to drying winds and sunscald, which turns their needles brown and dry during the winter. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2025
Noun
Set beneath the Matterhorn, the resort spans over 225 miles of pistes across Switzerland and Italy, with high-altitude skiing that stretches up to nearly 12,800 feet on the glacier—often allowing for early-season and late-spring turns when other resorts are winding down. Bailey Berg, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Jan. 2026 Just a quick rotation, and your personal audio turns into shared sound. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 9 Jan. 2026 Clean lines, sharp lines, sharp turns. Damon Wise, Deadline, 9 Jan. 2026 As in Samuel Beckett’s tragicomic theater and novels, Tarr’s movies, by turns funny and heartbreaking, dignify human struggle with a tenacity of vision and empathy. John Penner, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026 Delhomme’s answer, by turns humorous and insightful, is worth listening to. Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 7 Jan. 2026 Here’s to boredom, to wrong turns, to fruitful friction. The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026 Her memoir writing on the independent artist’s life has driven me to purchase silk sheets and lust after writing sheds, while novels like The Man Who Saw Everything glitter with ambitious formal turns. Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026 The Cowboy Coaster takes you on a nearly mile-long journey of curves, loops, and sharp turns, reaching nearly 30 miles per hour. Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 5 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turns
Verb
  • Adley, who at Marigold rotates dishes regularly, is enticing diners to Heretik with a chicken operation and shellfish, oysters and sea urchins.
    Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2026
  • This is because the Sun rotates once every 28 days.
    Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 5 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Forcefully thrust your hips forward to return to standing so that the bell swings up in front of you.
    Greg Presto, Outside, 7 Jan. 2026
  • When the rudder is put over, the stern swings out first, so that if the vessel is in restricted waters, trying to avoid something ahead can result in hitting something behind.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 5 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The director's take deviates from Shelley's in its emphasis on forgiveness.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Jan. 2026
  • The Disney performance, which typically runs on weekdays, deviates from the religious overtunes.
    Todd Martens, Boston Herald, 30 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • As the family's frantic search begins, the media is quick to point the finger at Marissa and her friend, Jenny Kaminski (Elle Fanning), whose nanny, Carrie Finch (Sophia Lillis), becomes the prime suspect.
    Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
  • This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
    Christa Swanson, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • This annual event occurs when the Earth revolves into a stream of material left by Halley’s Comet.
    Dean Regas, Cincinnati Enquirer, 17 Oct. 2025
  • The Wizards’ argument revolves more around versatility.
    Josh Robbins, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Small businesses throughout the Golden State, especially those in rural or underserved communities, are on pins and needles as the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) ponders Verizon’s acquisition of Frontier.
    Javier Palomarez, Sacbee.com, 19 Dec. 2025
  • The difference between these two performances makes the romance even more unbelievable, as the audience ponders what this seemingly confident woman sees in this immature putz.
    Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 15 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • Session length depends on availability and need.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Jan. 2026
  • The length of cold required to break dormancy in any particular tree species depends on both the length of typical winter and the variability of winter temperature patterns where a species evolved.
    Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Therapeutic Chiron spins direct in your 11th House of Friendship, turning awkward group dynamics into teachable moments and opening space for clear team agreements.
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 2 Jan. 2026
  • This recipe takes a classic grits recipe and spins it into an immensely flavorful breakfast casserole.
    Josh Miller, Southern Living, 31 Dec. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Turns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turns. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.

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