as in attacks
to take sudden, violent action against
it is dangerous to keep tigers as house pets, as they often turn on their masters without warning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in thrills
to cause a pleasurable stimulation of the feelings
unsurprisingly, the fanboys were turned on by the movie's amazing special effects and slam-bang plot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in triggers
to cause to function
would you turn on the TV?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of turns (on)
Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2026
Before every important test, teacher Nancy Barajas dims the lights, turns on a disco ball and blasts music from her playlist.
—ABC News, 13 May 2026
Before every important test, teacher Nancy Barajas dims the lights, turns on a disco ball and blasts music from her playlist.
—CBS News, 13 May 2026
The new northbound camera also could capture unlawful right turns on red by drivers who fail to stop or who turn in a manner the city describes as not careful and prudent.
—Theo Karantsalis, Miami Herald, 7 May 2026
Other recommendations from the report include allocating more funds for speed lumps and the quick-build program, as well as hiring staff to coordinate a citywide Safe Routes to School program, and exploring a citywide ban on right turns on red lights.
—Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Dramedy turns on Bella and Elliot, their families and the everyday chaos that comes with living with ADHD and autism.
—Annika Pham, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
Manually lift the float switch to ensure the motor turns on.
—Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 16 Apr. 2026
What happens then, when the Ohio data center turns on its nighttime lights?
—Arik Levinson, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
Moving south, the route turns on Mill Creek Parkway to end at Theis Park.
—Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2026
Before every important test, teacher Nancy Barajas dims the lights, turns on a disco ball and blasts music from her playlist.
—ABC News, 13 May 2026
Before every important test, teacher Nancy Barajas dims the lights, turns on a disco ball and blasts music from her playlist.
—CBS News, 13 May 2026
The new northbound camera also could capture unlawful right turns on red by drivers who fail to stop or who turn in a manner the city describes as not careful and prudent.
—Theo Karantsalis, Miami Herald, 7 May 2026
Other recommendations from the report include allocating more funds for speed lumps and the quick-build program, as well as hiring staff to coordinate a citywide Safe Routes to School program, and exploring a citywide ban on right turns on red lights.
—Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Dramedy turns on Bella and Elliot, their families and the everyday chaos that comes with living with ADHD and autism.
—Annika Pham, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
Manually lift the float switch to ensure the motor turns on.
—Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 16 Apr. 2026
What happens then, when the Ohio data center turns on its nighttime lights?
—Arik Levinson, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turns (on)
Verb
-
Dennis waits until Mallory leaves to go on a bike ride, and then attacks her on the path.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
-
Nadal was diagnosed with Mueller-Weiss syndrome early in his career, a rare degenerative condition that attacks the navicular bone in the foot.—
Ava Wallace,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
The ensemble acting of it all thrills me.—
Maira Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
-
The idea unnerves critics but thrills its architects.—
Andrew R. Chow,
Time,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
That's because June 1 triggers salary cap mechanisms for allowing the team to trade the star receiver.—
Armando Salguero,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
-
By the time the 2030 census triggers the next redraw, virtually every state will redraw again, with partisan advantage as the primary goal.—
Bruce Sibley,
Time,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Any passenger who assaults, threatens, intimidates or interferes with airline crew members can lead to penalties of up to $43,658 per violation, according to the FAA.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
3 May 2026
-
Any person who assaults, threatens, intimidates, or interferes with airline crewmembers can face criminal charges and civil penalties costing up to $3,658 per violation, the statement read.—
CBS New York Team,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
Each song excites with shifting drums and a playground of sonic textures, unwrapping each layer like presents for your ears.—
Kat Bein,
SPIN,
21 May 2026
-
As exhilarating as their comeback was, the emergence of Pages as the Dodgers’ next star excites the back-to-back champs more.—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
The same circadian system that morning sunlight activates can be reinforced or undermined by what’s screwed into your lamps for the next 14 hours.—
Allison Palmer
June 2,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
-
Mercury in Cancer, for instance, activates your partnership sector — followed by the sun later this month — bringing focus to romantic, business or close one-on-one dynamics.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
That figure has dwindled to around 3 percent as fewer candidates avail themselves of the money and Congress raids the fund for other things.—
Adam Lashinsky,
Washington Post,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Some owls will hunt the wildlife that raids our garbage cans, like skunks and opossums.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
What starts as one state utility trying to see its own network more clearly could end up as part of the blueprint for how the developing world electrifies its future.—
Ken Silverstein,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
-
This transit electrifies creativity, romance, pleasure and self-expression.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Turns (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turns%20%28on%29. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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