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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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, 12 June 2026 For a moment, the mood turns sour. Literary Hub, 11 June 2026 Your adaptable nature turns small moments into quick bridges, while gentle humor lightens heavier topics so plans move forward together. Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 11 June 2026 Drawing on generations of Chinatown family lore and silences, See turns China City’s vanished streets and her ancestors’ immigrant gambles into a historical fiction layered with stories of survival and belonging. Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026 Created only a year ago, Nourish Miami is a food recovery and redistribution organization that turns luxurious leftovers into quality meals for those in need. Delia Rose Sauer, Miami Herald, 11 June 2026 But, unsurprisingly, what begins as an exciting experiment turns into an emotional powder keg. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 11 June 2026 The new architecture turns that logic inside out. Sarwant Singh, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026 Denver Greek Fest turns 60 Friday-Sunday. John Wenzel, Denver Post, 4 June 2026
Noun
Essentially, Barb’s had two heel turns during the show’s first two seasons. The Deadline Team, Deadline, 10 June 2026 Chrome, the album, is billed as his most maximalist in years, after a string of left turns and last year’s back-to-basics Possession. Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 9 June 2026 La Mirada’s production, under the able enough direction and choreography of Parker Esse, bounces along through all these twists and turns. Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 9 June 2026 His distinct sensibility — by turns theatrical, ironic, chaotic, heartfelt — was native to the Internet. Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 8 June 2026 Fans saw the trucks jump high into the air, drift around tight turns, smash into vehicles and perform hit backwards wheelies. Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 7 June 2026 For much of the ’80s, Michael Joseph Jackson and Prince Rogers Nelson took turns ruling the musical landscape. Keith Murphy, VIBE.com, 7 June 2026 But this was a fun matchup with plenty of twists and turns. Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 5 June 2026 What’s next Next week brings Maine’s Senate primaries, following a Democratic race that has taken several twists and turns. Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turns
Verb
  • Kamoʻoalewa is a space rock between about 40 to 100 meters in size that rotates once every 28 minutes.
    Andrew Jones, Scientific American, 11 June 2026
  • The Mercedes star, the brand logo of the vehicle manufacturer Mercedes-Benz, rotates on a building of a Mercedes-Benz car dealership.
    Joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 11 June 2026
Verb
  • Marie dips them in paint and swings them like a brush, leaving thick, violent marks across a white canvas.
    Nia Dumas, NPR, 16 June 2026
  • Think about a car door that swings open near a cyclist.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2026
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
  • Not just any privileged class Here is where the Boomer defensiveness becomes harder to dismiss—and, strangely, easier to understand.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 14 June 2026
  • One concerns a romantic dream come true that becomes a bit of a nightmare.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 June 2026
Verb
  • The Wizards’ argument revolves more around versatility.
    Josh Robbins, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Cipher is the linchpin of this story, the question mark around which this season revolves.
    Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Here, Aimee Bender ponders what happens when one girl decides against eating apples.
    Anna Mebel, JSTOR Daily, 5 May 2026
  • 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
Verb
  • The deeper resonance depends on each person’s particular context.
    Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 11 June 2026
  • Your exact tax bill depends on your income, holding period and whether any additional taxes, such as the Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT), apply.
    Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 10 June 2026
Verb
  • Well, this latest adaptation could, which spins the aforementioned plot points in staggeringly irritating ways.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 4 Dec. 2025
  • That the color evokes looking up to the clouds on a clear day should feel like a return to form as the world spins madly on.
    Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Turns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turns. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.

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