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
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of turns
Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
October 23 – November 21 Steady focus turns effort into visible progress.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
For example, an uguisu (a nightingale, or bush warbler) sings in spring, asagao (morning glories) bloom in summer, a full moon is most beautiful in autumn, and the wind turns cold in winter.
—Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 9 Apr. 2026
In late November, the annual Anegada Lobster Festival takes the island's year-round lobster love and turns it into an obsession, with local restaurants featuring special dishes and plenty of events making the spiny Anegada lobster the star of the show.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2026
If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 9 Apr. 2026
D'Orazio's son Gabe is 9, and his daughter Maddie turns 11 this month.
—Dr. Joseph D'orazio, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026
Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver star as Nicole and Charlie, artists in the entertainment industry whose amicable separation soon turns into a nasty divorce and fight for custody over their son.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Apr. 2026
August 23 – September 22 Persistent focus turns small tasks into big wins.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 9 Apr. 2026
The songs on the last few Bon Iver albums often sound like excerpts from a longer dialogue, at turns offhanded and intense, among collaborators.
—Mitch Therieau, Pitchfork, 8 Apr. 2026
The state’s plan to widen the highway could further restrict left turns, according to the petition.
—Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2026
Coming out of spring training, the Mets planned to re-evaluate whether to deploy a six-man staff after two turns.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026
But the texts of these new laws—which are heavily predicated on a kidfluencer’s willingness to sue his or her own parents—are at turns vague, confounding, and possibly toothless.
—Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026
Within minutes of leaving town, the pavement twists downward through tight turns and steep grades as the mountain air begins to warm, the vegetation giving way to chaparral and scattered juniper, then to the stark silhouettes of ocotillo and Mojave yucca.
—Josh Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Speeds would range from 25 to 35 miles per hour, slowing at turns.
—Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 7 Apr. 2026
That, in itself, becomes the best and most heartfelt display of the couple thanks to leads Sarah Pidgeon and Paul Anthony Kelly’s committed turns.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
Fresh off the global success of KPop Demon Hunters, the film’s vocal stars are bringing their fandom full circle with a new collaboration that turns a familiar fast-food run into an immersive experience.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
October 23 – November 21 Steady focus turns effort into visible progress.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
For example, an uguisu (a nightingale, or bush warbler) sings in spring, asagao (morning glories) bloom in summer, a full moon is most beautiful in autumn, and the wind turns cold in winter.
—Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 9 Apr. 2026
In late November, the annual Anegada Lobster Festival takes the island's year-round lobster love and turns it into an obsession, with local restaurants featuring special dishes and plenty of events making the spiny Anegada lobster the star of the show.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2026
If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 9 Apr. 2026
D'Orazio's son Gabe is 9, and his daughter Maddie turns 11 this month.
—Dr. Joseph D'orazio, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026
Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver star as Nicole and Charlie, artists in the entertainment industry whose amicable separation soon turns into a nasty divorce and fight for custody over their son.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Apr. 2026
August 23 – September 22 Persistent focus turns small tasks into big wins.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
Noun
Avoid sudden braking or acceleration, and be especially cautious on hills or when making turns.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 9 Apr. 2026
The songs on the last few Bon Iver albums often sound like excerpts from a longer dialogue, at turns offhanded and intense, among collaborators.
—Mitch Therieau, Pitchfork, 8 Apr. 2026
The state’s plan to widen the highway could further restrict left turns, according to the petition.
—Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2026
Coming out of spring training, the Mets planned to re-evaluate whether to deploy a six-man staff after two turns.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026
But the texts of these new laws—which are heavily predicated on a kidfluencer’s willingness to sue his or her own parents—are at turns vague, confounding, and possibly toothless.
—Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026
Within minutes of leaving town, the pavement twists downward through tight turns and steep grades as the mountain air begins to warm, the vegetation giving way to chaparral and scattered juniper, then to the stark silhouettes of ocotillo and Mojave yucca.
—Josh Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Speeds would range from 25 to 35 miles per hour, slowing at turns.
—Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 7 Apr. 2026
That, in itself, becomes the best and most heartfelt display of the couple thanks to leads Sarah Pidgeon and Paul Anthony Kelly’s committed turns.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 31 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turns
Verb
-
Now, Proll rotates through her three dogs, taking them each to therapy events at UConn and to K12 schools as well.—
Mikayla Bunnell,
Hartford Courant,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The $175 per person omakase menu often rotates based on the fish in season and what is available at the markets chefs frequent.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The observation window will be short, however, because once Orion swings all the way around the moon, the brightness of Earth will wash out any potential sightings of the moon dust.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Less through walkouts and more through people feeling like the pendulum swings back, and organizations are trying to hire again.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
3 Apr. 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 becomes the wellspring of the book.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Ancestry exploration often becomes important to people in their 50s, according to Asilis.—
Patricia Doherty,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
But right now, the oil market is the sun around which the stock market revolves.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Who ever ponders the conveniences of that 20th century innovation, the airplane, that makes 21st century hustle possible?—
Bill Barrow,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But when the account balance is empty or close to it, the outcome depends on timing, the type of debt and the rules governing the levy.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
There is no doubt that the fate of Hezbollah depends largely on the longer-term settlement of the Iran war and its effect on the associated operation in Lebanon’s south.—
Mireille Rebeiz,
The Conversation,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Invitees will be welcomed with Martell’s French 75 while a DJ spins the hottest beats before Davido himself arrives on Sunday, April 12.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Agnes, the tender, bristling English associate about which this film spins, does have the wardrobe and wit of my favorite adjuncts.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Turns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turns. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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